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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


;I3  WEST  MAIN  STRIET 

WEBSTER, NY.  i4i80 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/iCIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductlons  historiques 


"^^ 
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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


r~l    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculAe 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 

loured  maps/ 
Cartes  gtographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue 

Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 

I      I    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


n 


n 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  materiel/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  iiure  serrie  peut  causr*r  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
iors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  vexte. 
mais.  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  film^s. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  it*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculdes 

0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcoiories,  tacheties  ou  piqui 


piqudes 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tachdes 

0Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


Transparence 

Quality  of  pri 

Qualiti  inigale  de  {'impression 

includes  supplementary  materia 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~n    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~n    includes  supplementary  material/ 

|~~|    Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totaiement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  ittb  fiimies  A  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


aox 


^ 

rr.'ui.iiirT- 

12X 


18X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hes  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exernplaire  fiim6  fut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
gAn(irositA  de: 

Bibiiothdque  nationaie  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  ^it6  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  netteti  de  I'exemplaire  fiim6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplairea  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  fiimis  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniftre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbols  --►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  lo 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


iVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  ii  est  f  iim6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  m6thode. 


1  2  3 


32X 


1  2  3 

4  5  6 


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-M   .,v 


FRANK  FORESTER'S 

FIELD   SPORTS 


OP   THE 


UNITED  STATES, 


AND 


BRITISH  PROVINCES,  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


There  \»  exhilaration  In  the  ehafie— 
Not  bodily  only.     •    ♦    •    ♦    • 

It  U  a  mingled  rapture,  and  we  And 
The  bodily  spirit  mounting  to  the  mind.' 

Sir  Egerton  Bryitgeg. 


BY 

HENRY  WILLIAM  HERBERT; 

author  of  "  my  8h00tinq  box,"  "  the  warwick    woodlands," 

"marmaduke  wyvil,"  "cromwkll,"  "the  brothers," 

"the  roman  traitor,"  4tc.,  &g 


M 


-^■T 


m- 


IN   TWO  VOLUMES. 
VOL.  I. 

NEW-YORK: 
STRINGER    &   TOWNSEND. 

(Late  Burpesg,  Stringer  &  Co  ) 
S!i3    BROADWAY. 

1649. 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1S48 

BY  STRINORR   AND   T0WN8END. 

In  tne  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Cou.t  for  the  Sonthem  District  of  New-York 


f 


i 


i 


JoHM  R.  WiNSER.  Stereotyper. 
136  Folton-Stieet. 


COLONEL  WADE    HAMPTON, 

Uc,  «Vc.,  i(c., 

of  "8rt)e  CZ^ooHlanlis,"  SoutD  CaroUna, 

ei)is  tooctt  on  t|)e  jTiclD  Jbports  oC  t))e  BnlteO  States 

ano  ]3c(ti«1)  ^cotoincea 

o( 

Kottl)  2liiwr(ca, 

ta  Vi?rs  vespectfullj}  tteHicateO,  as  a  trCbute  of  ])om«ge 

to 

Site  . (First  S9ortsma« 

in  V)t  lanO : 

SS  ])i8  mvt  Sbetb't 

Frank  Forested. 


i 


I 


I 
i 


':M 


■'I 

4 


i 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


M 


I  HAVE  little  to  say  in  Preluce  to  the  following  work  on  Fio'd 
S[)ort8 ;  my  reasons  for  producing  it,  at  this  moment,  will  be 
found  in  the  body  of  the  book  itself;  but,  once  for  all,  it  ap- 
peared to  me  that  such  a  work  was  needed,  at  this  juncture, 
and  tiiat  its  publication  might  possibly  tend,  in  some  small  de- 
gree, to  avert  the  impending  doom,  which  seems  to  have  gone 
forth  from  the  democracy  of  the  land,  against  game  of  all  sorts. 

No  one  abler,  or  elder,  seemed  willing  to  stand  forth ;  so 
"  with  all  my  imperfections  on  my  head,"  I  have  ventured  my- 
self as  the  champion  of  American  Sport  and  Sportsmanship ; 
and — "  what  is  writ  is  writ,  would  it  were  worthier  !" 

I  have  here,  especially  and  before  aught  else,  to  express  my 
obligations  for  what  1  have  boiTowed — the  generic  distinctions 
namely,  and  descriptions  of  the  form,  measurement,  and  plumage, 
of  all  the  winged  game  of  the  Continent— from  those  distin- 
guished ornithologists,  and  good  sportsmen,  Mr.  Audubon  and 
Mr.  GiRAUD,  to  whose  "  Birds  of  America,"  and  "  Birds  of  Long 
Island,"  I  am  greatly  indebted.  I  have  not  scrupled,  moreover, 
to  quote  largely,  on  occasion,  from  Wilson's  "  American  Orni- 
thology," DeKay's  "  Natural  History  of  New- York,"  and 
God  man's  "American    Natural  History," — and   to  all   these 


vi 

^*  ATIVEHTISEAIENT. 

gentlemen  I  beg  to  expre^B  the  high  sense  I  feel  of  the  aid  I  have 
derived  from  their  excellent  works.  To  my  friend,  William  T. 
Pouter,  I  need  not  apologise  for  the  two  or  three  pages  I  have 
borrowed  from  his  admirable  edition  of  "  Hawker  ..n  Shooting," 
afl  he  would  pardon,  doubtless,  a  heavier  offence  to  a  fellow- 
worker  in  the  same  honorable  field  with  himself. 

For  the  illustrations,  designed  by  myself  iVom  living,  or  stufTed 
specimens,  I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  Bei.l,  the  eminent 
taxidei-mist  and  naturalist,  who  kindly  laid  open  his  cabinet  for 
my  use  ;  and  I  will  only  add  my  acknowledgment  to  Mr.  Read, 
for  the  Ppint  and  fidelity  with  which  he  has  rendered  my  draw' 
ings  on  the  wood. 

This  said,  nothing  remains  but  to  express  my  hope,  that  my 
labors  may  be  not  wholly  vain,  and  that  my  doctrines  may  meet 
the  favorable  censure  of  those,  for  whose  use  they  are  intended 
— THE  Sportsmen  of  America. 


HENRy  WILLIAM  HERBErlT. 


Thk  Ckdari,  August  3rd,  IS48. 


I 


I  I  lldVO 
LIAM  T. 

I  havo 
fellow- 


Htuffbd 
minent 
net  for 
Head, 
draw- 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


®f  Volume  €mt. 


lat  my 
f  meet 
ended 


IT. 


RUFFED  GROUSE Fkontispikck. 

CANADA  GROUSE    '. ,3 

AMERICAN  SNIPE ,33 

AMERICAN  WOODCOCK  .        .        .  .        .  ,90 

PINNATED  GROUSE      .        .        .        .        .        .  ..gs 

AMERICAN  QUAIL  ,6^ 


f 


m 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  ONE. 


Pasi. 

Introductory  Odservationb 1 

The  Game  of  North  America          ...••..  30 

Upland  Shooting          .                .                45 

The  Pinntited  Grouse             49 

The  Ruffed  Grouse 64 

The  Canada  Grouae        .                .        .                •        ...  71 

American  Quail          •                         80 

The  Woodcock              86 

Common  Snipe          ....                .....  91 

Bartram's  Tattler 94 

The  American  Hare .  100 

The  Northern  Hare 103 

The  Mallard 106 

Tho  Dusky  Duck 110 

The  Blue-Winged  Teal 115 

The  Green-Winged  Teal ,        .  119 

The  Summer  Duck 123 

The  Pintail  Duck            138 

Spring  Snipe  Shooting          .        .        .        .   ' 137 

Summer  Woodcock  Shooting    ........  169 

Upland  Plover  Shooting     •...«....  209 

Autumn  Cock  Shooting    •....••,.  210 

Quail  Shooting     ■••••••,.,.  319 

Ru?FED  Grouse  Skooting          ..•••»..  240 

Grouse  Shooting .                .  248 


CONTENTS. 
AuTuiUN  Shootino 
Rail;  and  Rail  Shootino 

Duck  Shooting,  on  Ini^o  Watkrs      '    .   '        * 
Sporting  Doob      .  * 

The  Setter       .  '        '        '        * 

*  •  •  • 

The  Pointer       .        ' 

•        •        ,        , 

The  Cocking  Spaniel       .        , 

Kennel  Management 

Alteratives      „  "        '        * 

Xaxatives  and  Purgatives 
Distpmper 

Woims       .        .        ^  '        '        •        • 

Poisons  *        * 

Mange        ..'.*.'/*        "        *        * 
Ophthalmia    .  '        *       '        ' 

•  •  4 

^ore  Feet  *        *        * 

*        *        •        • 

field  Management  of  Doers    .  *        *        ' 


.    268 
393 

•  313 
313 

•  338 
333 

■    335 
343 

•  344 

347 

350 

351 

351 

353 

353 

354 


•  268 
293 

•  319 
313 

•  338 
339 

•  335 
343 

•  344 

347 

350 

351 
351 
353 
352 
354 


*,i 


FIELD  SPORTS 


OF    THE 


UNITED  STATES  AND  BRITISH  PROVINCES. 


N  the  occasion  of  commencing,  it 
is  now  several  years  ago,  a  series 
of  papers  in  a  leading  monthly 
magazine, "  On  the  Game  of  North 
America,  its  nomenclature,  habits, 
haunts,  and  seasons ;  with  hints 
on  the  science  of  woodcraft" — I 
introduced  the  subject,  by  the  fol- 
lowing general  remariis,  and  it  ap- 
pears to  me  that,  inasmuch  as  they  are  not  only  still  applicable, 
but  have  in  effect  become  more  and  more  evidently  true,  owing 
to  the  lapse  of  time  since  their  publication,  during  which  the 
evils  complained  of  have  increased  tenfold,  I  cannot  do  better 
than  repeat  them,  as  entirely  germane  to  the  matter,  and  as 
aptly  introductory  to  that  which  is  to  follow.  J 

"  There  is,  perhaps,"  I  remarked,  "  no  country  in  the  world 
which  presents,  tc  the  sportsman,  so  long  a  catalogue  of  the 


19 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD    SPORTS. 


ft^tates  of  North  Amenca  ;  there  is  none,  probably,  which  counts 

amly,  .n  wh.ch  the  wide-spread  passion  for  the  chase  can  be 

indulged,  under  so  few  restrictions,  and  at  an  expense  so  trifling. 

Yet  all  this,  notwithstanding,  it  is  to  be  regretted  greatly  that 

here  isno  country  in  which  the  nomenclature  of  thefe  jL  na- 

,    /«r«,  these  roving  denizens  of  wood,  wold  and  water,  is  so  con- 

fused  and  unscientific  ;  none,  in  which  their  habits  are  so  little 

gentle  craft  of  Vener.eis  so  often  degraded  into  mere  pot-hunting- 
and  none,  in  which,  as  a  natural  consequence,  thfgame  that' 
swarmed  of  yore  in  all  the  fields  and  forests,  i;  all  L  lakes 
mers,  bays,  and  creeks  of  its  vast  territory,  are  in  such  peril' 
of  becoming  speedily  extinct.  ^ 

"  That  in  a  nation,  every  male  inhabitant  of  which  is,  with 
but  rare  exceptions,  a  hunter,  and  ready  with  the  gun  almost 
beyond  example,  this  should  be  the  case,  can  be  exjJained  only 
by  the  fact  that,  as  I  have  said  before,  little  is  known  generally 
of  the  habits  of  game  ;  and  that  the  rarest  and  choices!  specif 
are  slaughtered  inconsiderately,  not  perhaps  wantonly,  at  such 
times  and  m  such  manners,  as  are  rapidly  causing  them  to  disap- 
pear  and  become  extinct. 

"  That  such  is  the  case,  can  be  proved  in  a  few  words,  and 
by  reference  to  a  few  examples.  The  most  evident,  perhaps, 
of  these,  ,s  the  absolute  extinction  of  that  noble  bird,  the  Heath- 
Hen,  or  Ptnnated  Grouse,  Tetrao  Cupxoo,  on  Long  Island, 
where  within  the  memoiy  of  our  elder  sportsmen,  they  might 

soli  k'.\  ;  '"''  "*  '^'  P"""?^^  ««^««»'  but  where  o1  a 
solitary  bird  has  been  seen  for  years.  In  the  pines  on  the  south- 
western  shores  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  the  oak-barrens  of  north- 
eastern Pennsylvania,  the  same  birds  were  also  plentiful  within 
a  few  years  ;  but  now  they  are  already  rarcB  aves  ;  and,  after  a 
few  more  returns  of  the  rapidly  succeeding  seasons,  they  will  be 
entirely  unknown  in  their  old-accustomed  places." 
The  same  thing  is  the  case,  in  a  yet  greater  degree,  with  re- 


INTRODUCTORY    OB8EUVATION8. 


13 


pard  to  the  Wild  Turkey.      It  is  not  yet  half  a  century  since 
tiiese  birds,  the  noblest  wild  game  of  the  Gallinaceous  order, 
abounded  on  the  slopes  of  the  Warwick  and  Musconetcong 
Mountains  ;  in  the  Shawangunks  ;  and,  in  a  word,  throughout 
the  whole  length  of  the  great  chain,  which  connects  the  White 
Mountains  of  the  north,  with  the  AUeghanies  proper.      I  have 
myself  conversed  with  sportsmen,  in  the  river  counties  of  New 
York,  who,  in  their  boyhood,  thought  less  of  killing  their  half- 
dozen  Wild  Turkeys  in  the  morning,  than  we  should  now-a-days 
of  bagging  as  many  Ruffed  Grouse.     At  present,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  stragglers  which,  I  believe,  still  exist  on  the 
Connecticut,  about  the  rocky  steeps  of  Mount  Tom  and  Mount 
Holyoake,  and  a  single  drove,  which  are  reported  to  be  seen 
occasionally  among  the  hill-fastnesses  at  the  lower  end  of  the' 
Greenwood  Lake,  on  the  frontiers  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
none  are  to  be  found  until  we  reach  the  western  regions  of 
Pennsylvania.     And,  in  fact,  as  a  bird  of  sport,  they  are  noty 
any  where  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  great  Apalachian  chain. 

The  Deer  and  the  greater  American  Hare,  which  turns  white 
m  winter,  are  likewise  already  extinct  in  many  places^ 
where  both  could  be  captured,  within  the  last  twenty  years,, 
in  such  numbers  as  to  afford  both  sport  and  profit  to  their  pur- 
suers. 

In  New  Jersey,  and  in  New  York,  south  of  the  forty-second 
degree  of  north  latitude,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  number 
carefully  preserved  on  the  brush-plains  of  Long  Island,  the  Deer, 
Cervus  Viroinianus,  has  ceased  to  exist.     And  it  requires  no 
prophetic  eye  to  see  the  day  when  this  pride  of  the  North  Ame- 
rican forest  shall  have  ceased  to  have  its  habitation  any  where 
eastward  of  Pennsylvania  ;  unless  it  be*  in  the  remote  northern 
forests  of  Maine,  in  the  mountains  of  New  Hamfshire  and  Ver- 
mont, and  in  that  small  district  of  New  York,  lying  between  the 
head  waters  of  the  Hudson,  Lake  Champlain,  the  St.  Lawrence 
and  the  eastern  extremity  of  Ontario-which  latter  tract,  owin-' 
to  Its  singularly  rugged  av^  t-rproductive  character,  will  proba! 
bly  contain  the  Deer,  the  iVi.  ose,  the  Cariboo,  the  Panther,  and 


14 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD  SPORTS. 


even  the  Beaver,  after  they  shall  have  become  extinct,  even  in  the 
far  West. 

It  has  been  alleged,  and  by  many  is  doubtless  believed  to  be 
true,  that  the  increase  of  population,  the  spread  of  cultivation, 
and  the  transfiguration  of  the  woods  and  wastes  into  corn-lands 
and  pastures,  are  in  themselves  an  all-sufficient  and  irremediable 
cause  for  the  disappearance  of  all  the  various  kinds  of  game,  the 
extinction  of  which  the  sportsman  and  the  naturalist  alike 
-  deplore. 

Were  this  the  case,  it  would  be  needless  to  waste  words  on 
the  subject — ^but  so  far  is  it  from  being  the  case,  that  with  regard 
to  very  many  kinds  of  game — several  of  those  already 
cited,  and  others,  which,  though  still  numerous,  will  ere  long 
be  in  the  same  predicament,  so  rapidly  are  they  decreasing — the 
very  converse  of  the  proposition  is  true. 

The  Wild  Turkey,  the  Pinnated  Grouse,  and  its  congener,  the 
Ruffed  Grouse,  as  also  the  much  rarer  bird  of  the  same  order, 
commonly  known  as  the  Spructt  Partridge — the  very  existence 
of  which  was  unknown  to  Wilson — all  unquestionably  do  make 
their  homes  in  the  wilderness,  the  last-named  there  exclusively. 
But  all  the  others,  without  exception,  prefer  the  vicinity  of  cul- 
tivated regions  on  account  of  the  plenty  and  choicer  quality  of 
the  food  ;  and  are  found  nowhere  in  such  abundance  as  in  those 
localities,  which  afford  the  combination  of  rough  wild  lying- 
ground,  with  highly  cultivated  land,  on  which  to  feed  at  morn 
"    and  dewy  eve. 

Thus,  in  the  Eastern  States,  if  you  are  in  pursuit  of  the  Ruffed 
Grouse,  the  surest  places  where  to  flush  your  game  will  not  be 
the  depths  of  the  cedar  swamp,  or  the  summit  of  the  mountain 
horrid  with  pine  and  hemlock,  but.  on  the  slopes  and  ledges 
falling  down  to  the  cultivated  vales,  and  in  the  skirts  of  briary 
woodlands,  or  in  the  red-cedar  knolls,  which  remain  yet  unshorn 
in  the  midst  of  maize  and  buckwheat  fields,  which  never  fail  to 
tempt  this  mountain-loving  bird  from  his  native  fastnesses. 

In  like  manner,  in  the  West,  it  is  on  the  prairie,  but  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  boundless  tracts  of  maize  and  wheat,  which  the 
industry  of  the  white  man  has  spread  out  over  the  hunting- 


K^- 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS.  ]5 

grounds  of  the  Indian,  that  the  Pinnated  Grouse  is  to  be  found 
m  miUions ;  and  the  Turkey  in  similar  situations,  where  the 
forest  encircles  the  jet  isolated  clearings  of  the  agricultural 
pioneer.  " 

Thus,  of  these  three  species,  it  is  untrue  that  the  spread  of 
cultivation,  unless   in    so   far  as   that   involves   the  increased 
numbers  and  increased  persecution  of  the  cultivators,  has  any 
detrimental  effect  on  their  propagation,  or  in  anywise  tends  to 
decrease  their  numbers.     For  centuries  yet  to  come,  let  Ame- 
rican industry  develope  and  extend   American  agriculture  as 
rapidly  as  it  may,  there  will  be  woodlands  and  wilds  in  abun- 
dance to  furnish  shelter  for  any  quantity  of  game;  and  there 
wui  always  be  fastnesses  innumerable,  which  never  will    be- 
cause they  never  can,  be  cleared,  owing  to  the  roughness  of 
taeir  surface,  and  the  sterility  of  their  soil,  whether  from  eleva- 
tion above  the  sea,  rockiness  or  swampiness  of  situation,  or 
other  natural  causes,  which  it  needs  not  to  enumerate. 

Other  species  of  game,  so  far  from  flying  cultivation,  or  ab- 
horring the  vicinity  of  civilized  man,  are  literally  not  to  be  found 
except  where  the  works  of  the  ox  and  the  man  are  conspicu- 
ous; never  being  seen  at  all  in  the  wilderness  proper,  and 
gmng  cause  for  some  speculation  as  to  their  whereabouts, 
their  haunts,  their  habits,  if  not  their  existence  on  the  conti- 
nent,  previous  to  the  arrival  of  civilized  man,  from  realms 
nearer  to  the  sun. 

Neither  the  Woodcock  nor  the  Quail,  Scolopax  Minor,  and 
Perdix,  sive  Ortyx  Viroiniana,  are  ever  found  in  the  depths 
of  the  untamed  forest,  aloof  from  human  habitations  ;  though 
both  genera  frequent,  nay  require,  woodland,  as  a  sine  qu&  non, 
for  their  habitation.  Moreover,  in  places  where  they  are  entirely 
unknown  to  the  first  settlers,  where  they  do  not  in  fact  exist  at 
all,  they  speedily  become  abundant,  so  soon  as  the  axe  levels 
the  umbrageous  forest,  and  the  admitted  sunbeams  awaken  or 
mature  the  germs  of  that  animal  or  vegetable  life,  on  which  the 
birds  subsist. 

This  is,  I  presume,  so  generally  known  as  a  fact,  that  no  proof 
thereof  ,s  necessary.     I  may,  however,  mention  two  or  three 


16 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


very  distinct  and  remarkable  instances  of  this  fact,  which  have 
come  under  my  own  observation ;  one  with  regard  to  the  in- 
crease and  spread  of  Quail,  the  others  of  Woodcock,  into  loca- 
lities where  they  were  previously  unknown.     Some  seventeen 
years  ago,  I  visited  Niagara  Falls  for  the  first  time,  and  travelled 
westward  so  far    as    the   upper  waters   of  the  Thames   and 
the  Chenail  Ecart^  in  Canada  West,  shooting  a  little  when  oc- 
casion offered,  and  making  many  enquiries  concerning  the  va- 
rieties of  game,  and  the  habits  of  those  to  be  found  in  the  prov- 
ince.     At  that  time,  I  enjoyed  some  extremely  good   Snipe 
shooting,  close  to  the  village  of  Niagara,  at  the  embouchure 
of  the  river  into  Lake  Ontario  ;  and,  in  fact,  I  saw  more  birds, 
and  those  tamer,  than  in  any  other  place  where  I  have  ever  shot 
them.     I  had  no  dog  with  me,  and  was  completely  ignorant  of 
the  country  ;  but  in  such  multitudes  were  the  Snipe  feeding  in 
every  fallow-field   and    maize  stubble— it  was  in  the  spring, 
immediately  on  the  breaking  of  the  frost— that  I  made  a  very 
large  bag,  in  the  course  of  a  very  few  hours.     At  that  period, 
the  Woodcock  was  just  becoming  known  on  the  frontier ;  and' 
a  few  birds  were  killed  in  the  season  ;  they  were,  however,  still 
extremely  rare,  and  had  been  known,  comparatively  speaking, 
but  a  short  time.      Quail  were  utterly  unknown,  boih  in  the 
Province  and  on  the  American  side  of  the  river.     I  had  not 
journeyed  many  miles,  e^e  I  had  outstripped  the  Woodcock  ; 
and  I  could  gain  no  tidings  of  his  existence  beyond  the  Ouse! 
or  Grand  River  of  the  Mohawks. .  At  this  moment,  probably, 
the  best  Woodcock  shooting  on  the  continent  is  to  be  obtained 
ic  the  islands  situate  at  the  western  end  of  Lake  Erie,  in  the 
Detroit  River,  and  in  Lake  St.  Clair.     Quail  are  also  becoming 
exceedingly  plentiful  throughout  that  region. 

In  the  same  manner,  in  the  Eastern  States,  until  within  the 
last  six  years,  the  Woodcock  has  been  unknown  on  the  Penob- 
scot River,  although  abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  Portland  and 
Casco  Bay,  and  in  the  older  settlements  on  the  Kennebec.  What 
renders  it  more  evident,  in  the  latter  case,  that  it  is  the  absence 
of  civilization  and   not   the   severity   of  the   climate,  which 


INTRODUCTORY    0B8KHVATI0N8. 


ir 


has  so  long  deterred  this  bird  of  passage  from  visiting  the  east- 
ein  parts  of  Maine,  is  the  fact  that,  in  the  British  Provinces  of 
New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  much  farther  to  the  north- 
ward and  eastward,  and  in  the  old  cultivated  French  country 
below  and  around  Quebec,  the  Woodcock  has  long  been  an 
object  of  pursuit  by  the  sportsman,  and  of  attainment  by  the 
gourmet.  ^ 

It  may,  therefore,  be  assumed  at  once,  that  the  spread  of  agri- 
culture and  civilization,  in  themselves,  has  no  injurious  operation, 
but  rather  the  reverse,  on  any  kind  of  winged  game;  and  that' 
n.  some  instances,  the  progress  of  one  is  simultaneous  with  the 
increased  numbers  of  the  other. 

Even  with  game  of  the  largest  kind,  as  Deer,  Bear,  Hares, 
and  the  like,  it  is  not  the  circumscription  of  their  limits  by 
ploughed  fields,  but  the  ruthless  persecution  to  which  they  are 
subjected,  which  is  gradually  extinguishing  them,  where,  within 
ten  or  fifteen  years,  they  abounded. 

In  the  counties  of  Hampshire  and  Berkshire,  in  Massachusetts, 
of  Dutchess,  Putnam,  Kockiand  and  Orange  in  New  York,  and  of 
Sussex,  m  New  Jersey,  there  is  an  extent  of  forest  land,  wilder 
and  more  inaccessible,  and  in  every  way  n.ore  suited  to  harbor 
herds  of  Deer,  and  ten  times  greater,  than  all  the  Deer  forests  in 
the  H.ghlands  of  Scotland ;  m  the  former,  you  have  perhaps  rather 
a  greater  chance  of  meeting  an  elephant,  thanks  to  the  abundance 
of  menageries,  than  a  hart  or  hind-in  the  latter,  the  Red  Deer 
are  more  numerous  now  than  they  were  two  centuries  a<ro 

Hence  it  .s  evident,  that  there  is  no  natural  reason  whatever 
much  less  a  necessary  or  inevitable  one,  for  the  rapid  decrease' 
and  approaching  extinction  of  all  kinds  of  gan>e,  whether  large 
or  small,  throughout  the  United  States  of  America.  Nor  is  it  to  be 
attributed  to  any  other  cause  than  the  reckless  and  ignorant  it 
not  wanton,  destruction  of  these  animals  by  the  rural  population 
The  destruction  of  the  Pinnated  Grouse,  which  is  total  on 
Long  Island,  and  all  but  total  in  New  Jersey  and  the  Pennsyl- 
van.a  oak-barrens,  is  ascribable  to  the  brutal  and  wholly  wanton 
havoc  committed  among  them  by  the  charcoal-burners,  who  fre- 


18 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


quent  those  wooded  districts ;  and  who,  not  content  with  destroy- 
ing the  parent  birds,  at  all  seasons,  even  while  hatching  and  ho- 
vering  their  broods,  shooting  the  half-fledged  cheepers  in  whole 
hatchings  at  a  shot,  and  trapping  them  in  deep  snows— with  a 
degree  of  wantonness  equally  barbarous  and  unmeaning,  steal 
or  break  all  the  eggs  which  they  can  find. 

To  this  add  the  spring  burnings  of  the  forest  land,  and  you  have 
cause  enough  to  account  for  the  extermination  of  the  Pinnated 
Grouse,  or  Heath-Hen  ;  who  is  not  now  to  be  shot  in  such  num- 
bers as  to  render  it  worth  the  while  to  hunt  for  him  nearer  than 
Michigan  or  Illinois. 

I  should,  perhaps,  here  state  as  a  farther  proof  of  the  correct- 
ness of  my  assertion,  that,  on  the  little  island  of  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, off"  the  coast  of  Massachusetts,  where  the  Heath-Cock,  once 
abundant,  had  nearly  become  extinct,  the  species  was  preserved 
from  annihilation  by  the  very  praiseworthy  means,  equally  de- 
termined and  energetical,  adopted  by  the  citizens  in  general  to 
prevent  its  extermination. 

This  fine  bird  is  again  plentiful  in  that,  its  last  locality,  on  the 
Atlantic  coast ;  and  it  is  Ijke  to  remain  so,  as  the  people  take  an 
honorable  prid-  in  preserving  it,  and  neither  kill  it  themselves, 
nor  allow  visitors  to  do  so,  except  in  the  proper  seasons,  and 
under  restrictions  as  to  numbers.  For  a  space,  I  believe,  of  five 
years  the  prohibition  to  kill  was  absolute  ;  and  the  fine  so  heavy, 
and  so  rigorously  enforced— backed  as  it  was  by  public  opinion 
— that  the  desired  end  was  gained. 

The  period,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  for  which  the  Grouse  bar- 
rens were  closed  has  expired,  and,  under  some  limitations,  of  the 
the  nature  of  which  I  am  not  exactly  aware,  they  may  be  visited 
by  sportsmen  henceforth. 

The  destruction  of  the  smaller  and  more  abundant  species  is  to 
be  attributed  to  diflferent  reasons— but  the  operation  of  these  is 
more  rapid  and  more  fatal  than  those  which  have  led  to  the  ex- 
.tinction  of  the  races  we  have  mentioned. 

The  first  of  these  causes  is  the  very  singular,  if  not  incompre- 
hensible, characteristic  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  to  dis- 


INTRODUCTOnr    OBSEHVATlOtlS.  |. 

regard  .„d  violate  all  law,  even  I.».  „f  ,heir  „w„  maki„„_,h. 
■econd,  .h.  apachy  of  .he  rural  p„p„l„,i„„  „;y,  ^spTc.  '  ^T 
•nd  .he  error  ,„.o  which  they  have  fallen  of  regardL  all  11 
aw,  a,  p«ed  .o  .heir  de,ri„,e„.,  and  for  .he  ple»„re  of  ^  eTwe  ' 
ler»  ,„  c,.,e,-.he  .hird  i,,  .he  d„ho„e,.  glu..„„y  „f  TJ^J^ 
n  .he  e,.,e»,  „i.h  .he  exoep.io„  of  a  few  ,por.L,e„_„„d  ."; 
a,.,  korre,co  re/ere..,,  the  .elf,sh„e«,  and  „„'„.  „f  „„!„„  . It 
themselves  of  genuine  apor..,„,co.  " 

Wi.h  regard  ,„  .he  f.r,.  „f  .he  reasons  laid  down  here,  it  „„„ 
be  .nken  as  a  mat.er  of  fae.  .ha.  no  man,  bov  or  fool  ;„  « 
^„  abs.ains  from  killing  game,  in  or  ou.'of  11^^    e  r^I" 
law  ;  and  .ha,  no  farmer  or  landholder  will  ever  give  Ir™,  o„ 
.S-njt  .he  vi„,a.ion  of  .hi,  law,  .hough  so  far  if  he  f  f™  „" 
"»"-l..,g,ous,  that  one  of  the  principal  pleasures  of  his  life  is  Z 
»ue,ngh,s  neighbors  for  the  smalles.  possible  sums.     The  « 
ceedrng  fondness  of  ,he  popula.ion  in  general  for  recourse  .o  civ" 
and  the.r  equally  evident  disregard  of  criminal,  law,  is  "0/^.' 
phenomena  of  .he  coun.ry,  and  .he  age  in  whi'ch  J^^^  '""" 
Secondly  ;  the  apathy  of  .he  farmer  arises  na.urally  enough 
fi-om  .h,s  .hat  all  he  has  heard  of  game-laws  in  for^gn'land  t 
m  connectmn  w„h  feudal  rights,  individual  privile-es,  and  „I 
na,d,st,„ct,„ns,  which  are  certainly  everywhere",  re  orll 

aem:g„gueo:::„:s\redr;r„i:iCot!:^^^^^ 
XTfo::g*::ir°"'"---°--"--^^^^ 

Remarkably  enough,  it  has  so  happened  in  this  countrv 
tng  to  the  non-residence  of  wealthy  and  min  7'  °'^" 

districts  of  the  Northpm  Sw        i  ^  "'""  '"  *'^«  ''"'■al 

oi  me  rsorthern  States,  that  until  very  recentlv  »ll 
plication  for  and  amendments  of  a^m.  i         u      """^""^  ^"  ^P" 
..  awellers  in  cities.  ^JX^t^Z^Z^^Z^Z 


fli 


M 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


try  farmers,  as  a  body,  have  neither  the  time,  the  inclination,  noi 
the  opportunities  for  making  themselves  acquainted  with  the 
names,  habits,  or  manners  of  game-animals ;  and  consequently 
could  not,  if  they  would,  have  framed  adequate  laws  for  their 
protection.  I  believe  that  if  they  could  now  be  brought  as  a  body 
to  understand  that  the  provisions  of  these  laws  are  not  arbitrary 
and  intended  to  suit  the  wishes  of  classes,  they  might  be  in- 
duced to  lend  their  hand  to  the  good  work  of  game-preservation. 
A  very  few  years  since,  the  sportsmen  proper-those  I  mean 
who  shot  for  exercise,  pleasure,  and  healthful  excitement-and 
the  poachers  who  shot  for  the  markets,  both  coming  from  the 
cities,  were  the   only  enemies   of  the  Quail  and  Woodcock 
7  hey  were  at  that  time  entirely  disregarded  by  the  farmers,  who 
had  not  the  art  to  kill  then,  on  the  wing,  who  did  not  care  foi 
them  as  delicacies,  or  articles  of  food,  and  who  had  no  markets 
to  supply  with  what  they  considered  useless  birds.     So  great 
was  the  extent  of  this  disregard,  that  I  have  repeatedly,  on 
tinng  a  great  number  of  shots  in  small  pieces  of  woodland    been 
questioned  by  the  owners  what  on  earth  I  found  to  shoot  at- 
and,  on  showing  some  twenty  or  thirty  Woodcock,  have  been  met 
by  a  remark  that  the  speaker  had  lived  on  that  farm  all  his  life 
and  had  not  seen  a  dozen  such  birds  in  his  life-time-and  the' 
name  of  the  bird  was  unknown  to  them. 

At  this  period,  which  was  the  golden  age  for  the  sportsman,  tra- 
veiling  was,  comparatively  speaking,  expensive ;  it  was  often 
necessary,  in  visiting  out-of-the-way  places,  where  the  best  sport 
was  to  be  had,  to  hire  private  conveyances ;  and  the  consequence 
was  that  the  city  poacher  was  in  a  great  measure  precluded  from 
following  his  barbarous  and  dishonest  trade.  Add  to  thi«  that 
the  country  people  were  averse  to  the  market-shoote.,  ".;,<"„ 
they  discovered  his  object,  and  cast  obstacles  in  his  wav 

All  this  is  now  changed— the  rail-roads  by  which  the  country 
18  everywhere  intersected,  enable  the  city  pot-hunter  to  move 
about  with  his  dogs,  and  to  transmit  the  subject  of  his  butchery 
to  the  market  easily,  cheaply,  speedily.  Nor  is  this  all-the 
count-y  Rev  bids  fair  to  monopolize  the  trade  of  pot-hunting 


INTRODUCTORV    OBSERVATIOWS. 


91 


The  young  men  and  boys,  now-a-days,  all  shoot  on  the  wing  • 
many  of  tho.n  «hoot  extremelv  well ;  and  knowing  the  country, 
and  being  at  it  all  the  time,  the  devastation  they  make  is  enor- 
mous. 

Their  game  is  easily  disposed  of  by  the  aid  of  the  conductors, 
or  other  employes  on  the  rail-roads,  who  share  the  spoils  with  the 
killers.  The  father,  fmding  that  the  idle  lad,  who  formerly  did 
an  hour  .«.•  two  of  work,  and  bird-nested  or  played  truant  quite 
unprofitably  all  the  rest  of  the  day,  now  readily  earns  his 
three  or  four  shillings  a  day  by  loafing  about  the  woods  with  a 
gun  m  h.s  hand  and  a  cur  at  his  heels,  encourages  him  in  this 
thoughtless  course,  and  looks  upon  him  as  a  source  both  of  honor 
and  profit  to  the  family. 

In  the  meantime,  knowing  nothing,  and  caring  less  than  noth- 
mg,  about  the  habits  or  seasons  of  the  birds  in  question,  he  judges 
naturally  enough  that,  whenever  there  is  a  demand  for  the 
birds  or  beasts  in  the  New  York  markets,  it  is  all  right  to  kiU 
and  sell  them.  * 

And  thanks  to  the  selfish  gormandizing  of  the  wealthier  classes 
of  that  city,  there  is  a  demand  always;  and  the  unhappy  birds 
are  hunted  and  destroyed,  year  in  and  year  out,  by  the  very  per- 
sons  whose  interest  it  is  to  protect  them,  if  it  be  only  for  the  sel- 
fish  object  of  making  the  most  money  of  their  killing 

Even  now,  while  I  write  these  lines-February,  1848-owing 
to  the  mildness  of  the  winter,  which  has  allured  them  earlier 
than  usual  from  their  hybernacula  in  the  swamps  of  the  sunny 
South,  the  Woodcock  are  here  among  us,  preparing  their  nests 
already  ere  the  snow  is  off  the  ground.     Each  pair  of  these  birds 
if  unmolested  now,  will  raise  eight  young-perhaps  twelve-dur- 
i.g  the  season.     The  bird,  moreover,  is  in  no  condition  at  this 
time  of  year-his  plumage  is  full  of  a  species  of  louse,  his  flesh 
.8  unsavory,  he  is  thin  and  worthless-yet  the  ostentation,  rather 
than  the  epicureanism  of  the  rich  New  Yorker  demands  Wood- 
cock ;  therefore,  despite  law,  common  sense,  and  common  hu- 
manity, the  bird  is  butchered  at  all  times-eccn  now.    Within  ten 
years  to  come,  if  some  means  widely  different  from  any  now 


22 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


I 


and  everywhere  within  ,  hundred  n,iles  of  any  city  large  enoulh 
.o  airord  a  marlce..     Within  fifty  years  from  the  day  otwhichl 
now  wr,.e,  1  anj  satisfied  that  the  Woodcock  will  he  as  ra  e  i, 
the  ea..ern  and  n,idla„d  scales,  as  the   Wild  Turkey  and  the 
Hcath-Hen  are  at  present. 

The  Quail  wdl  endure  a  little  longer,  and  the  Ruffed  Grouse 

will  Zh        ","-"''  "-^  ''^'""'"^  °f  *»  '»•-'-*  -    "^ 
will  see  the  w,de  woodlands,  the  dense  swamps,  and  the  n,ou7 

.»  s,de,,  depopulated  and  silent.     ,  begin  t'o  iespair-ItTfe 
that  there  ,s  no  hope  for  those  who  would  avert  the  evil  day 
when  game  shall  be  extinct,  and  the  last  manly  exercise  out  ^; 
date  .n  the  United  r  -es  of  North  America.    '  '  °' 

The  foregoing  remarks  contain,  in  brief,  th,  reasons  which 

work,  on     the  I  ,eld  Sports  of  the  United  States,  and  the  British 
Provtnces  of  North  America"_a  work,  the  int  ntion  a!d       r' 
act  r  of  „h,ch,  I  shall  take  this  opportunity  of  stating,  are  en 
.u...yd,«e.n.from  those  of  any  book  herlfore  publL^^lt 

.hi',"  ""  ^:°"''^"  '""'•""^'"  I  remarked,  in  connexion  with 
he  observat,„„s  quoted  above,  "  writer,  on  all  branches  of  sport- 
ng  h.ve  long  abounded  ;  many  of  them  of  high  birth  marlf 
hem  d,st,ngu  shed  in  the  world  of  science  a'd  of  le  t«    'anj 
.ome  evenof  thegentlersex.  Thegreatcst  chemis^of  hisday  Sir 
Humphry  Davy,  was  not  ashamed  to  record  his  piscatoryTxp 
r.ences  ,n  '  Salmonia,'  a  work  second  only  in  frihness  and  at 
tractmn  to  its  prototype,  by  old  Isaak  Walton      ThTt  ^^.^ 
gentle  dame  Juliana  Berners,  deemed  it  not  a:u„lm Lit .    k 
0  nd,te  what,  to  the  present  day,  is  the  tex.-book  of  falcontv 
and  hapless  beautiful  Jane  Grey  thought  she  had  given  the    x' 
tremestpra,se.to  Plato's  eloiuence,  when  she  preffrri  it  to  the" 

mustc  of  the  hound  and  horn  in  the  good  greenwUraiht 
!f  h  'Td'Z'7'  -'""'™''  ■""  f°""'i »°  -»  t°  record  he  feat 
of  her  bold  and  skilful  hunters,  to  build  theories  on  the  result 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 


23 


inct  every- 
rd — and  in- 
irge  enough 
on  which  I 
!  as  rare  in 
>y  and  the 

red  Grouse 
h  century 
the  moua- 
r— to  feel 
evil  day, 
ise  out  of 

ris  which 
le  present 
le  British 
md  char- 
f,  are  en- 
lished  in 

ion  with 
of  sport- 
many  of 
;ers,  and 
day,  Sir 
y  expe- 
and  at- 
ftir  and 
ine  task 
Iconry ; 
the  ex- 
t  to  the 
the  last 
le  feats 
suits  of 


their  experience,  or  to  plead  the  cause  of  her  persecuted  and 
vf  almost  exterminated  game. 

f  "  Within  the  last  few  years,  indeed,  much  has  been  done.     A 

i  whole  host  of  sporting  writers  have  sprung  up  in  all  quarters  of 

I  the   land,  having  their  rendezvous   and  rallying   point  in  the 

columns  of  the  New  York  Spirit  of  the  Times. 

"  Still,  most  of  these  writers  have  aspired  rather  to  enter- 
tain than  to  instruct ;  rather  to  depict  scenes  and  incidents  to 
the  life,  than  to  draw  from  those  scenes  a  moral  and  a  theory." 

Even  the  beautiful  edition  of  that  admirable  English  work, 
"  Hawker  on  Shooting" — prepared  for  the  American  reader  by 
my  excellent  friend,  William  T.  Porter,  known  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  continent  as  a  thorough  and  accom- 
plished sportsman — does  not  descend  to  those  minute  details  of 
the  zoological  distinctions,  nomenclature,  and  habits  of  our  vari- 
ous species  of  game,  which  I  propose  to  give  to  my  readers  ;  nor 
— though  abounding  with  graphic  accounts  and  highly  colored 
anecdotes  relating;  to  every  species  of  shooting  or  hunting,  does 
it  present  any  views  or  suggest  any  means  for  the  preservation 
of  game,  or  for  the  acquisition  of  skill  in  woodcraft  and  gunnery 
in  this  country — both  being  very  different  on  this  from  what 
they  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

This  consideration — connected  with  another,  namely,  that  for 
the  last  two  years  hardly  a  week  has  passed  without  my  re- 
ceiving a  letter  from  some  person  addicted  to  field  sports,  in  all, 
even  the  remotest,  parts  of  the  country,  requesting  me  to  suggest 
some  plan  for  the  prevention  of,  what  all  see  to  be  imminent,  the 
total  annihilation  of  game  within  our  borders — has  led  me  to 
believe  that  the  time  has  airived,  when  a  work  of  this  character 
is  called  for  by  the  country  in  general,  and  is  likely  to  be  as  well 
received  as  the  deficiencies  of  its  author  will  permit. 

And  now,  after  these  brief  introductory  observations,  I  shall 
state  what  is  my  plan  for  the  arrangement  of  this  work,  and 
thereafter  plunge  at  once  in  Medias  Res. 

In  the  first  place,  I  propose  briefly  to  ascertain  what  are  the 
game  of  the  United  States  and  Provinces  of  America— a  point 


"WfT 


24 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


P'aced  o„  a  scientific  I '«.^.    '^  "'  'P°"™«°»'>ip  .ever  can  be 

Tliis  done,  1  sliall  classify  it  under  it,  (l,r„ 
«ons,  of  Upland  or  Wand,  Coa^.  or  f  a  .ITr'*  *"'°"  """- 
Under  each  head,  1  shall  .1^0  M,r'    °t    '"°"  ^"""""S- 
the  best  authorities  „   „at„rrhi«     ''""''"'°°''  '''^"=^  '""^ 
genera,  the  colors,  haUr  brll       "^  "''  "'''''"■'""gy,  of  the 
-pecies  of  ga^e-ieX^h'  g  TJ^J  2t """"'  °'  ''"'^ 
modes  of  killing  and  preservn.  them   Tnd  .    .'"T  '"""'^'' 
-«.  on  the  proper  -omenclalre  u^g-W  'iL'Ltt       ''  '  f""' 

.h^;.p.ovin'i.„isnrr;r^:::ci^^^^^^^ 

Ot  the  science  of  eunnprv  th^  *    •  ■  **n"na^  ot  the  chase 

.he  acuisition  of  th^e'rS  ttrC"  a^Tr't^  "!  ''°^' 
topics,  80  much  has  been  staf^       f       .^'         ''^^^'  ^'"^^^ed 

Biaine  and  other  greaX  ira:!:^  L!^"'"^'  ^°-"' 
sary  that  I  should  be  verv  diffnc.  •       ^'f '  *^**  '*  '»  not  neces- 

e-,  no  „„rU  on  Lu  iri:  ^f  X?" °"-  ^"'-"- 
perfection  unless  it  include  these  vital  su'^lf  ."haTT""  '" 
not  pass  them  over  in  silence,  though  I  shairdiK.  "'""" 

parts  of  them  as  appear  to  be'  mos.le^i  ab  tlT  °°  ™'^'' 
sufficient  present  ouhliVifxr  ^    c  '      ^^  ^^^  ^ant  of 

circums.anLo7«'"eM"s;l°rr:er""  "^"""'^""^ '°  «>' 

.He":^no:ir.t!L:-'rd:::t°"  "^ — = 

::-:^rrd:rbi;7;bi--^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

kennel-treatment  and  hunitof^^^^^^ 

with  the  noble  science  of  f!l  ' '"^  ^^''^^^'^^  ««^'"e<^*ed 

of  Rivers."  '^  '"'^°"^y'  «"^«  '^^-^-^  "the  Mystery 

I  have,  indeed,  often  wondered  that  both  f.lrn 

•«g  have  not  been  introduced  on  the  boundf        "^ '"'^  ''"''■ 

"n  me  boundless  prairies  of  t.'ie 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 


3ft 


West,  which,  for  the  perfection  of  the  first  named  sport,  are  the 
grounds  par  excellence  of  the  whole  world— the  decline  of  fal- 
conry on  the  continent.of  Europe,  and  in  England,  being  caused 
by  the  multiplicity  of  enclosures,  which  renders  it  impossible 
to  pursue  a  chase,  blindfold  as  it  were,  the  eyes  being  fixed 
constantly  on  the  manojuvres  of  the  hawk  to  pounce,  and  of 
the  quarry  to  evade  his  stoop,  in  the  mid-air. 

Again,  Deer-coursing  might  be  practised  with  undoubted  suc- 
cess on  the  prairies  ;  the  best  proof  of  which  is  in  the  fact,  that 
it  has  been  tried  by  one  gentleman  at  least,  who  has  imported 
the  rough  Scottish  deer  greyhound  for  the  purpose,  in  the  ex- 
treme West ;  and  has  been  found  by  him  to  surpass  all  his  ex- 
pectations, both  for  the  excitement  of  the  chase  and  the  great 
sport  attained.  Deer,  of  the  largest  size  and  finest  head,  were 
run  into,  after  a  pursuit  of  three  miles  or  more,  in  view,  and 
pulled  down  single-handed— nay,  even  the  enormous  Elk  was 
brought  to  bay  unerringly,  by  these  staunch,  fleet  and  noble 
hounds. 

With  regard  to  these  sports,  however,  I  have  said  my  say  j 
and  only  expressing  my  wonder  that  they  should  not  be  adopted, 
and  my  advice  to  all  genuine  Western  sportsmen-I  do  not  mean 
game-butchers-to  adopt  them  with  all  due  speed-I  pass  on  to 
what  more  claims  attention. 

Fishing  is,  perhaps,  scarcely  a  >W  sport ;  it  is  nevertheless 
so  decidedly  a  branch  of  sportsmanship— of  course  I  mean  fly- 
fishing, or  trolling  with  the  live  or  dead  minnow  ;  any  other 
mode  I  can  regard  only  as  I  would  knocking  a  hare  on  the  head 
m  her  form,  or  shooting  a  bevy  of  Quail  running,  or  in  a  huddle 
—that  I  may  not  leave  it  unnoticed,  lest  I  should  be  supposed 
to  rob  It  and  its  votaries  of  the  honor  due  to  the  gentle  science. 

I  know  not,  whether,  before  entering  on  my  subject,  I  owe 
any  apology  to  my  readers  for  that  I,  not  native  or  to  the  manor 
born,  should  aspire  to  treat  of  a  subject  so  purely  indigenous  as 
the  field  sports  of  America.  Should  it  be  deemed  presumptuous 
in  me  to  attempt  it,  I  must  only  point,  as  my  excuse,  to  seven- 
teen  years  of  apprenticeship  honestly  devoted  to  acquiring  the  lit- 


'* 


86 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD    SPORTS. 


tie  I  do  know  of  American  field  sports-and  so  infinitesimal  is 
that  little,  that  I  am  almost  compelled  to  own,  with  the  sage  of 
old,  "  all  that  I  do  know  is,  that  I  know  nothing"— and  to  a 
constant  and  long-maintained  habit  of  intercourse  and  familiar 
correspondence  with  better,  though  not  more  thoroughgoing, 
sportsmen  than  myself,  in  every  part  of  the  United  States,  and 
of  the  Provinces. 

Upon  any  general  defence  of  field  sports  I  do  not  here  think 
it  worth  the  while  to  enter.  All  men  whose  opinions  are  worth 
one  moment  of  attention,  have  long  ago  decided  that  they  are 
the  best,  the  manliest,  and  the  most  desirable,  in  every  respect, 
of  national  amusements,  tending  to  prevent  the  demoralization 
of  luxury,  and  over  civilization,  the  growth  of  effeminacy  and 
sloth,  and  to  the  maintenance  of  a  little  manhood  in  an  age,  the 
leading  characteristics  of  which  are  fanaticism,  cant,  and  hypo- 
crisy, added  to  a  total  and  general  decay  of  all  that  is  manly  or 
independent  either  in  the  physical  or  moral  characters,  alike  of 
individuals  or  nations. 

To  those  who  think  field  sports  cruel,  immoral,  wicked,  and 
brutalizing,  I  have  only  to  make  my  lowest  bow  ;  and  to  en- 
treat that  they  will  give  me  and  my  book,  as  I  shall  assuredly 
give  them  and  their  opinions,  the  widest  possible  berth ;  assuring 
them  that,  without  the  slightest  respect  for  their  opinions,  I 
have  no  idea  of  intruding  upon  their  premises,  nor  any  desire  to 
convert  them  from  their  comfortable  and  self-hugging  creed. 

In  all  ages  and  in  all  countries,  genuine  field  sports— from 
which  I,  of  course,  exclude  the  really  cruel  and  brutalizing 
amusements  of  bear-baiting,  dog-fighting,  cock-fighting,  and 
other  similar  pursuits,  which  are  for  the  most  part  followed 
only  by  the  vicious  and  worthless  population  of  large  cities- 
have  been  approved  of  and  encouraged  by  the  wisest  men, 
by  statesmen  and  philosophers  and  philanthropists,  not  merely 
as  legitimate  pursuits  whereon  to  expend  and  exercise  the 
buoyant  animal  spirits,  and  ardent  animal  propensities  of  youth 
—which  must  have  an  outlet  one  way  or  another— but  as  the 
brst  mode  of  preserving  the  combined  advantages  of  the  mew 


M 


'i 


niteslmal  is 
the  sage  of 
' — and  to  a 
nd  familiar 
•oughgoing, 
States,  and 

here  think 
i  are  worth 
at  they  are 
sry  respect, 
loralization 
linacy  and 
an  age,  the 
and  hypo- 
s  manly  or 
s,  alike  of 

icked,  and 
»nd  to  en- 

assuredly 

;  assuring 
•pinions,  I 
f  desire  to 
creed. 
)rts — from 
)rutalizing 
ting,   and 

followed 
e  cities — 
iest  men, 
3t  merely 
ircise  the 

of  youth 
lit  as  the 

the  mem 


INTUOpUCTORY    OIISEIIVATIONS, 


37 


anna  in  corpore  aano — of  keeping  up  manhood,  and  of  maintain- 
ing the  physical  energies  and  capacities  of  the  human  race  at 
tlieir  highest  standard. 

It  is  an  authentic  and  undeniable  fact  that  the  aristocracy  and 
gentry  of  the  British  Islands  are  superior,  in  physical  beauty 
and  power,  in  robustness,  agility,  and  the  capacity  of  enduring 
fatigue,  to  any  other  class  of  n()i)ilily  in  the  world.  They  are, 
in  fact,  the  only  nobililif  in  existence,  which  have  been  enabled 
to  resist  the  deteriorating  influences  of  wealth,  luxury,  and 
breeding-in-and-in,  which  have  corrupted  and  efi'eininated  the 
nobility  of  all  other  lands  ;  they  are  the  only  uobilify,  in  exist- 
ence, which  not  only  ecjuals,  but  exceeds,  in  physical  stature 
and  strength  the  peasantry  and  laborious  classes  of  tlieir  own 
country.  And  to  nothing  is  this,  or  can  it  be,  ascribed,  but  to 
their  habit  of  residence  on  their  rural  estates,  and  their  addiction 
to  manly  and  laborious  field  sports.  To  the  like  cause,  may 
be,  in  its  degree,  attributed  the  superiority,  in  vigor  and  robust- 
ness, despite  of  ill  fare  and  hardship,  of  the  British  peasant  and 
artisan  to  his  equal  in  society,  in  France,  Spain,  Italy,  and  on 
the  European  continent  in  general. 

This  being,  as  it  must  be  admitted,  true  of  Great  Britain, 
there  are  two  reasons,  worth  the  consideration  of  the  statesman 
and  the  philanthropist,  why  the  encouragement  of  a  love  for 
field  sports  is  even  more  desirable  and  necessary  in  the  United 
States  than  in  that  country. 

The  first  is  this— that  the  wealthy  classes  of  the  northern 
states  eiilirely,  and  of  all  the  states,  in  a  great  degree,  dwelling 
exclusively  in  large  cities,  and  not  residing  at  all  on  rural  es- 
tates, or  ac(juiring  rural  tastes  and  habits,  are  infinitely  more 
liable  to  become  effeminated  and  effite  than  the  gentry,  not  of 
Britain  only,  but  of  France  and  Germany.  And,  in  fact,  the 
soi  dlsante  aristocracy,  the  dandies  of  our  cities,  are  now  softer 
and  more  cocknified,  as  a  rule,  than  the  gentry  of  the  European 
monarchies. 

The  second  consideration  is  this— that,  standing  armies  being 
out  of  the  question  in  this  republic,  the  defence  of  the  land  and 


9R 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


Its  institu  ons  must  ever  be  intrusted  to  the  people  at  large- 
and  the  adaptibility  of  the  people  to  that  defence  will  ever  de^ 
pend  on  their  aptitude  to  become  soldiers  at  a  short  notice,  and 
especially  on  their  readiness  with  the  gun. 

So  far  as  they  have  been  tried  hitherto,  nothing  can  be  more 
satisfactory  than  the  results.  But,  I  think,  it  will  appear,  on  a 
httle  consideration,  that  the  probability  of  those  results  continu- 
ing  the  same  for  a  large  term  of  years,  as  far  as  regards  the  use 
ot  the  gun,  IS  small  indeed  and  hourly  decreasing 

During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  every  countryman  was  a 
rifleman.  Burgoyne  surrendered  as  much  to  the  unerring  aim 
of  the  undisciplined  American  militia,  as  to  the  skill  or  courage 
of  the  regulars.  Even  in  the  last  war,  the  northern  and  mid- 
land states  could  produce  their  hundreds  and  thousands  of  rifle 
shots  ;  and  on  the  Canada  frontier  they  did  good  service 

Along  the  Atlantic  sea-board  the  rifle  is  now,  already,  an 
unknown  arm  ;  and  I  doubt  extremely  whether,  between  the 
Kennebec,  the  Delaware,  the  great  lakes,  and  the  ocean,  <me 
regiment  could  be  raised  of  men  practically  familiar  with  the 
use  of  this  deadly  national  weapon. 

According  to  this  rate,  the  use  of  the  weapon,  of  course, 
passmg  away  so  soon  as  its  utility  passes,  the  rifle  will  ere  long 
be  as  rare  in  the  western,  as  it  now  is  in  the  eastern  states 
The  Bison,  the  Elk,  are  already  rare  on  this  side  the  Mississippi, 

These  gone,  the  utility  and  honor  of  the  rifle  are  extinct  also 

So  long  as  smaller  game  exist,  the  shot-gun  will  still  continue, 

replacing  the  rifle  as  it  has  done  to  the  eastward,  to  be  in  use  • 

and  the  practice  of  fire-arms  will  not  be  wholly  lost.     Destroy 

the  small  game,  too,  and  the  fowling-piece  falls  into  disuse  also. 

United  States,  before  its  population,  now  the  readiest  on  earth 
with  the  gun  will  have  cast  it  aside  altogether ;  and  before  a 
firelock  will  be  as  rare,  unless  in  the  hands  of  trained  regulars, 
as  the  rifle  is  now  on  the  sea-board. 


le  at  large ; 
nil  ever  de- 
:  notice,  and 

!an  be  more 
ppear,  on  a 
Its  continu- 
irds  the  use 


INTRODUCTOBT   OBSERVATIONS.  99 

This  certainly  is  a  point  worthy  of  consideration,  even  by 
those  who  think  themselves  far  too  great  and  philanthropical 
to  trouble  themselves  about  such  trifles  as  the  increase  or  de- 
crease of  little  birds,  and  the  field  sports  of  little  men.  It  is, 
however,  sound  philosophy  which  teaches  us  that  "  great  ends 
come  from  small  beginnings." 


man  was  a 
lerring  aim 
or  courage 
n  and  mid- 
ads  of  rifle 
ice. 

Iready,  an 
stween  the 
ocean,  one 
^  with  the 


of  course, 
11  ere  long 
»rn  states, 
[ississippi, 
ining,  and 

tinct  also, 
continue, 
e  in  use ; 
Destroy 
mse  also, 
over  the 
on  earth 
before  a 
regulars, 


80 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPOUTS. 


THE    GAME 

OF    THE 

UNITED  STATES  AND  BRITISH  PROVINCES. 


AME  is  not  every  thing  which  ex- 
ists in  the  shape  of  birds  or  beasts 
^^  in  a  state  of  nature, /era-  natura,  in 
the  woods,  the  wastes,  or  the  wa- 
[  ters. 

This,  to  sportsmen,  self-evident 
proposition  is  by  no  means  gen- 
erally admitted  or  applied  by  the 
gunners  of  the  United  States,  or 
,  -  the  recorders  of  their  feats :  as  will 

be  read,ly  seen  by  those  who  peruse  the  registers  of  game  killed, 
n  the  great  hunting  parties  which  are  constantly  occurring  in 
the  more  remote  districts  of  the  Eastern  and  Midland  States- 
registers  m  which  we  shall  find  Owls,  Hawks,  Bluejays,  Robins, 
Figeons,  Squirrels  ;  nay,  even  Skunks,  Ground-hogs,  and  Opos- 
sums  enumerated  as  game. 

Game  is  an  arbitrary  term,  implying,  in  its  first  and  most 
correct  sense  those  animals,  whether  of  fur  or  feather,  which 
are  the  natural  pursuit  of  certain  high  breeds  of  dogs,  and 
jvh.ch  such  dogs,  whether  they  have  ever  met  with  the  animal 
before  or  not,  will  instinctively  follow  and  take 

Thereafter,  it  comes  to  signify  all  animals  which  are  so  pursued 
by  dogs  for  the  purpose  of  sport,  not  of  obtaining  food,  or  of 
destroying  a  noxious  animal  merely,  and  to  which  certain  cour- 
tesies  ,f  I  may  so  express  myself,  are  shewn,  and  certain  semi- 
chivalrous  usages  extended. 


GAME   OF   AMERICA. 


31 


NCES. 


which  ex- 
Is  or  beasts 
e  naturd,  in 
or  the  wa- 

elf-evident 
leans  gen- 
ed  by  the 
States,  or 
^ts ;  as  will 
ime  killed, 
curring  in 
1  States — 
s,  Robins, 
ind  Opos- 

and  most 
er,  which 
logs,  and 
le  animal 


At  the  same  time,  with  but  two  exceptions  that  occur  to  me, 
no  animal  can  properly  be  game  which  is  not  fitted  for  the  table, 
and  the  flesh  of  which  is  not  delicate,  and  esteemed  a  rarity. 

Again,  although  it  be  an  essential  qualification  to  game  that  it 
should  be  such  as  a  well-bred  dog  will  notice,  and  pursue  natu- 
rally, it  is  not  necessary  that  the  dog  should  be  invariably  used 
in  its  pursuit — as  in  the  case  of  the  Water-Rail,  and  the  Upland 
or  Bartram's  Plover  ;  on  both  of  which  thorough-bred  dogs  will 
stand  steadily,  although,  for  reasons  of  which  I  shall  treat  under 
their  appropriate  heads,  it  is  not  usual  or  desirable  to  take  out 
pointers  or  setters  in  pursuit  of  them. 

Once  more,  to  conclude,  there  are  animals  which  may  be  re- 
garded as  game,  under  certain  contingencies  and  in  certain 
countries,  which  I  should  not  coll  game  under  different  circum- 
stances. 

Where  falconry  is  in  vogue,  for  example,  which  is  purely  a 
sport,  and  a  most  scientific  sport,  too,  the  Heron,  the  Skylark, 
nay,  even  the  Magpie  is  pursued  as,  and  may  be  considered, 
game. 

In  like  manner,  where  packs  of  Fox  and  Otterhounds  are  re- 
gularly kept  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  those  animals,  legiti- 
mately and  scientifically,  and  where  to  kill  those  animals  other- 
wise than  legitimately  and  scientifically,  is  contrary  to  sports- 
manship and  custom,  the  Fox  and  the  Otter  may  be  properly 
termed  game. 

In  England  I  should  certainly  term  the  Fox  an  animal  of 
game  ;  in  those  counties  of  England,  wherein  Otter  hounds  are 
kept  up,  the  Otter  likewise. 

Here,  like  the  other  noxious  animals,  or  those  which  .are 
killed  for  their  peltry  only,  by  the  trap  or  the  gun,  they  are 
vermin;  as  are  the  Racoon,  the  Opossum,  and  the  like,  although 
these  may  be  casually  pursued,  unscientifically,  and  without  fair 
play,  or  regular  rules  of  sportsmanship,  for  their  flesh,  or  even 
for  sport. 

Game,  therefore,  in  its  proper  sense — and  in  no  other  do  I 
treat  of  it — consists  but  of  a  few  families,  and  even  «renera. 


33 


PKANK   FORESTEb's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


though  of  many  species  ;  and  in  the  United  States  and  British 
Provinces  of  North  America,  these  families  may  be  limiteJ  to 
8.x  fam.hes  of  quadrupeds  only,  containing  twelve  sub-genera 
and  species  ;  and  this  at  the  very  largest  and  most  liberal  com- 
putation.    These  families  are  the  Ox,  Bos;  the  Goat,  Capra ; 

Bear    z5^!^r^"'"'^''*  ^'"''  ^''""*'  "'^^^^  ^^^«*>  ""^  the 
Of  the  first  second  and  third  of  these  genera,  there  are  but 
three  species  found  on  this  continent,  one  of  each. 

The  BrsoN,  Bos  Amencanus,  peculiar  to  North  America. 
The  Rocky  Mountain  Sheep,  Ovis  Montana  ;  and 
The  American  Antelope,  or  Pronohorn. 

♦I,  ^tV^'  f  r  *''"■'  *"■'  ^^^  "^^""""^  ^'^""'l »»  tJ^e  territories  of 
the  United  States  and  the  Provinces,  namely— 

The  Moose,  Cervus  Alces  ; 

The  Elk,  Cervm  Canadensis; 

The  Cariboo,  American  Reindeer,  Cerms  Tarandus  ; 

The  Common  Deer,  Cervus  Virginianus ;  and 

The  Black-tailed  Deer,  Cervus  Macrotis. 

Of  the  Hare  there  are  two  varieties  known  on  this  continent : 
The  Common  HARE-vulg.  R^hUi-Lepus  Amencanus ;  and 
iHE  Northern  Hare,  Lepus  Virginianus. 

Of  the  Bear  also  there  are  two  varieties  : 

The  Common  Brown  Bear,  Ursus  Americanus ;  and 
The  Grisly  Bear,  Ursus  Horribilis. 

This  is  the  utmost  limit  that  I  can  assign  to  the  quadruped 
game  of  this  country;  as  I  cannot  lend  my  humble  sanction  to 
the  shooting  squirrels,  racoons,  or  opossums  out  of  trees,  and 
calling  that  sportsmanship ;  any  more  than  I  can  assent  to  shoot- 
ing  thrushes,  crow-blackbirds,  pigeons,  meadow-larks,  and  reed- 
birds,  and  calling  them  game. 

In  fact,  for  my  own  part,  I  can  scarcely  bring  myself  to  re- 
gard  the     ion  or  the  Bear  as  game,  in  consequence  of  the  whole- 


LU 


M  and  British 
be  limited  to 
ve  sub-genera 
t  liberal  com- 
Groat,  Capra  ; 
pus;  and  the 

there  are  but 

America, 
and 

territories  of 


GAME   or    AMERICA. 


88 


\dus  ; 


a  continent : 
icanua ;  and 


ind 

quadruped 
sanction  to 
'  trees,  and 
it  to  shoot- 
,  and  reed- 
self  to  re- 
the  whole- 


:% 


m. 


sale  and  butcher-like  fashion  in  which  the  former  are  slaughtered, 
and  the  total  absence  of  what  I  should  deem  sport  in  gallopping* 
alongside  of  a  great  unwieldly  terrified  mountain  of  tlesh,  pouring 
broadsides  into  him,  until  he  falls  for  loss  of  blood  ;  and  looking 
to  the  ferocious  and  noxious  character  of  the  latter. 

Nevertheless,  in  the  West,  i?«/a/o.hunting  is  regarded  as 
sport— therefore  the  Bison— for,  be  it  observed,  there  is  no  such 
an.mal  known  tc  this  continent  as  the  Buffalo— munt  take  its 
place  among  the  game  of  North  America ;  and,  in  the  south 
and  south-west,  the  bear  is  hunted  sportsmanly  and  scientifically 
with  packs  of  highly-trained  and  highly-bred  hounds.  I  cannot 
therefore,  deny  him  a  place  in  the  list  of  animals  of  game  or 
chase. 

The  Antelope  again,  and,  yet  more,  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Sheep,  are  so  rare,  and  so  little  pursued,  except  by  the  travellers 
and  trappers  of  those  barren  wilds,  who  kill  them-when  they 
can-for  their  flesh,  that  they  barely  come  within  the  sphere  of 
game.  There  is  no  mode  of  hunting  or  pursuing  them  practised, 
except  to  crawl  as  near  to  them  as  you  can,  and  shoot  them  if 
you  can  ;  still  they  are  of  species  recognised  as  game  elsewhere, 
which  doubtless  would  afford  rare  sport,  if  they  were  in  situations 
where  they  could  be  legitimately  hunted;  and  perhaps  will  yet  af- 
ford It  ,f  they  be  not  destroyed  by  the  trappers  and  backwoods- 
men,  before  increasing  civilization  and  refinement  brings  up  a 
class  capable  of  indulging  in  the  expensive  pursuit,  and  of  cher- 
ishmg  a  fondness  for  sport,  purely  for  sport's  sake. 

The  Moose,  the  Elk,  the  Cariboo,  and  the  Common  Deer,  are 
distinctly  game  in  every  sense  of  the  word  ;  and  are  pursued  as 
such  whenever  they  can  be  found.  The  black-tailed  Deer  is  of 
precisely  the  same  order,  and  will  doubtless  afford  as  good  sport 
when  civilization  shall  have  reached  his  haunts,  which  are  on, 
and  to  the  westward  of,  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  two  varieties  of  Hare  are  likewise  emphatically  game  • 
and  .t  .s  with  these  two  families  only,  and  but  with  two  or  three 
spec.es  of  these,  that  nine-tenths  of  my  readers  will  ever  have 
to  do. 

VOL.  I.  3 


84 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


mi 


Tlie  Mouse  and  Cariboo  may  be  hunted  with  more  or  less 
■viccess  in  Maine  and  Canada,  as  well  as  in  the  Eastern  provin- 
ces of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick.  A  few  linger  yet  in 
the  north-eastern  angle  of  New  York,  and  on  the  northern 
frontiers  of  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.  There  is,  however, 
little  prospect  of  sport  in  their  pursuit,  west  of  the  St.  Johns,  or 
south  of  the  Canada  lines.  A  few  Elk  are  said  to  exist  still  in 
the  western  districts  of  Pennsylvania,  and  also  in  Kentucky, 
but  to  find  them  in  herds,  and  in  fact  to  have  a  chance  of  killing 
them,  the  hunter  must  go  westward  of  the  Mississippi. 

Even  the  larger  species  of  hare,  which  becomes  white  in  win- 
ter, is  becoming  rare  in  New  York  south  of  the  region  of  Lake 
Champlain ;  and,  except  among  the  craggy  hills  where  h« 
can  laugh  at  pursuit,  he  will  soon  cease  to  exist  as  an  animal  of 
chase. 

So  that  in  fact  for  the  great  majority  of  sportsmen,  the  number 
of  varieties  of  four-footed  game  is  reduced  to  two  species— the 
common  Deer,  and  the  common  Hare— the  small  grayish  brown 

.  fellow,  I  mean,  who  is  erroneously  called  Rabbit— (or  be  it  ob- 
served no  Rabbit  exists  on  the  continent  of  North  America," and 

*'  no  Buffalo;  though  I  suppose  to  all  eternity,  men  will  persist- 
even  men  of  education,  who  ought  to  know,  and  do  know,  better 
—in  calling  them  by  the  names  applied  to  them  by  the  illiterate 
and  vulgar. 

I  have  no  patience  with  the  dependent  provincial  vulgarism  of 
calling  all  birds,  beasts,  plants  and  fishes,  by  the  name  of  Euro- 
pean animals  or  vegetables,  to  which  they  bear  some  fancied 
resemblance,  when  no  suah  things  exist  on  the  continent. 

There  is  scarcely  a  wild  bird  or  a  wild  plant  in  this  country 
that  does  not  go  by  some  ludicrous  misnomer.  Thus  a  Thrush  is 
termed  a  Robin,  a  Vulture  a  Crow,  a  Grouse  a  Pheasant  or  a  Par- 
tridge, a  Quail  a  Partridge— a  Rhododrendon,  an  Azalia,  and  a 
Calmia— all  three  as  wide  apart  from  each  other,  and  from  the 
thing  they  are  called,  as  an  ivy  bush  from  an  oak  tree— laurel ; 
and  so  on,  of  almost  everything  that  runs,  flies  or  grows  in  the 
woods  or  wilds  of  the  United  States. 


more  or  less 

istern  provin- 

linger  yut  in 

the  northern 

>  is,  however, 

St.  Johns,  or 

)  exist  still  in 

in  Kentucky, 

ince  of  killing 

ppi. 

ivhite  in  win- 
gion  of  Lake 
Is  where  he 
an  animal  of 

,  the  number 
species — the 
ayish  brown 
-for  be  it  ob- 
^merica,  and 
r'\]l  persist^ 
know,  better 
the  illiterate 

vulgarism  of 
me  of  F]uro- 
ome  fancied 
nent, 

this  country 
a  Thrush  is 
tnt  or  a  Par- 
zalia,  and  a 
nd  from  the 
■ee — laurel ; 
"ows  in  the 


CAMS   OF  AMEHrCA. 


86 


It  is  to  those  stupid  misnomers,  as  I  shall  show  hereafter  that 
one^hulf  t  e  confusion  and  difficulty  arises  among  spor  ;meo 
with  regard  to  the  objects  of  their  pursuit  P«"«'nen 

lesrdiZ.r'"'  'a  '^l  "'"^'^  ^""' '  "^"'^  ^^••^  -«  ''»"^»  find 
ess   difficulty  m  dec.dmg   what   species   are   properly  game  ■ 

hough,  w.th  regard  to  one  or  two  families,  much  more  In  arer-' 
tammg  the  correct  denominations  of  the  birds  themselves     t 
bemg  no  easy  task  to  ass.gn  the  individuals  known  by  some  ba 
barous  n.ckname  to  any  real  tribe  or  order 

All  the  game  birds,  proper,  of  this  continent,  then,  belong  to 
te  rird:^^T,r":'  '^"';  ""'  '^^  ^^—  *hey  are  c'a„ed-wl! 

AH  our  game,  coming  under  the  head  of  land-birds,  proper 
«e  o   theorder  termed  by  ornithologists  Rasores  ;  and    eCto 
wo  famd.es,  Pavonida,  and  Tetraonid<B,'  or  birds  followi«!°th! 
types  of  the  Peacock,  and  of  the  Grouse      Of  7h  ^ 

have  three  -bdivisions-M./.^.l-^X.^^/^'f^f-  "* 
r.can  Quail ;  and  Tetrao,  or  Grouse  ^  '       ^  '  °'  '^'""" 

vlfZlT'^  ''™'lf  ''"""'^'  ""^^  «"*  S--  ^«'-^-*,  the 
united  htates  possess  but  one  species. 

The  Wild  Turkey.     Meleagri.  Gallipavo. 

Of  the  third  family  Telraonida,  and  first  genus    Ortu.  n     -i 
there  are  no  less  than  «lv  .u.r     I  ^        '     '^'^^'  ^""'^ 

residence?     Tx  elttrr"''™.''""'  ""™»^  '"''  P'"-'  " 

nr,  tr  j:™::  *r"^'^  '-"'^^  ^'"-  -- -^' 

to  .  few  .ninute  and  laborious  orniColS  '  '  T  °°" "  ""'^ 
hunted  and  as  scien.iflcally  kil  ed  as  o„  L  ^  >•»«  regularly 
the  same  kiu.     They  are  l^Z-  "'""'^  ^'""^  «' 


86 


r«ANK  forester's  field  sports. 


1.  The  Common  American  Quail, 

2.  The  Calipornian  Quail, 

3.  The  Plumed  Quail, 

4.  The  Welcome  Quail, 

5.  The  Painted  Quail, 

6.  The  Douglass  Quail, 


Ortyx  Virgmiana; 
Ortyx  Californica; 
Ortyx  Flumifera  ; 
Ortyx  Neoxena; 
Ortyx  Picta; 
Ortyx  Douglasii. 


Of  these  six  species  the  first  alone  is  yet  an  object  of  pursuit 
being  found  everywhere  south  of  the  43rd  degree  of  north  lati- 
tude, from  the  waters  of  the  Kennebeck  to  those  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  if  not  yet  farther  to  the  south.     The  second,  third, 
fourth,  and  fifth  species  are  all  inhabitants  of  California,  as  far 
north  as  the  valley  of  the  Columbia— the  third,  or  Plumed  Quail, 
being  found  farther  north  among  the  Rocky  Mountains  ;  and  the 
last,  named  after  its  discoverer,  being  a  denizen  of  Lower  Califor- 
nia only,  and  never  straying  so  far  northward  as  his  congeners. 
^  Still  of  the  third  family  Tetraonida,  we  have  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  a  second  genus   Tetrao,  Grouse  proper,  of 
which  three  distinct   and  well  marked  species  belong  to  the 
States,  if  not  four.     Two  more,  in  addition  to  the  above,  inhabit 
the  British  provinces,  and    thence  northward   to  the  Arctic 
Ocean ;  and  four  others  are  peculiar  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  the  valley  of  the  Columbia.     Three  of  these  species  are  tole- 
rably  plentiful,  and  two  of  them  1  have  myself  shot,  the  one  being 
the  Ruffed,  and  the  other  the  Canada  Grouse,  respectively  vul- 
garised, as  the  Partridge,  and  Spruce  Partridge. 

Within  a  few  years,  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  western  spe- 
cies will  be  exposed  for  sale  in  our  markets  ;  and,  should  Whit- 
ney's Oregon  Railroad  go  into  effect  in  our  days,  who  knows  but 
we  may  live  to  shoot  Cocks  of  the  Plains  ourselves,  and  bring 
them  home  the  next  day  to  dinner  at  Delmonico's  r 

The  ten  American  species  of  Grouse  are  as  follows : 

1.  The  Common  Ruffed  Grouse,  Tetrao  Umbellus ; 

2.  The  Pinnated  GRousE-or  the  Heath-Hen,  Tetrao  Cupido , 

3.  The  Canada  Grouse— or  Spruce  Grouse,  Tetrao  Cana- 
densis ; 

4.  The  Dusky  Grouse,  Teirao  Obncurm ; 


'%v* 


GAME   OF   AMERICA. 


37 


irgmiana  ; 
'alifornica ; 
lumifera : 
eoxena  ; 
icta  ; 
ouglasii. 

ect  of  pursuit, 
of  north  lati- 
le  of  the  Rio 
second,  third, 
lifornia,  as  far 
illumed  Quail, 
tains ;  and  the 
L,ower  Califor- 
is  congeners, 
in  the  United 
ise  proper,  of 
belong  to  the 
above,  inhabit 
o  the  Arctic 
:y  Mountains, 
ecies  are  tole- 
the  one  being 
pectively  vul- 

>  western  spe- 
should  Whit- 
ho  knows  but 
es,  and  bring 

ws : 

?llus  ; 

'etrao  CupidOf 

Tetrao  Cana- 


6.  The  Cock  of  the  Plains,  Tetrao  Urophasianm ; 

6.  The  Sharp-tailed  Grouse,  Tetrao  Phasianellus ; 

7.  The  Willow  Grouse,  Tetrao  Saliceti; 

8.  The  American  Ptarmigan,  Tetrao  Mutus; 

9.  The  Rock  Ptarmigan,  Tetrao  Rupestris ;  and 

10.  The  White-tailed  Ptarmigan,  Tetrao  Leucuraa. 

Of  these  noble  birds,  the  three  species  first  named  are  all  na- 
tives of  the  Eastern  States,  and  a  few  of  all  are  yet  to  be  found 
in  them ;  although  the  Pinnated  Grouse;  or  Heath-Hen,  has  been 
nearly  exterminated— as  I  have  before  observed— and  the  Canada 
or  Spruce  Grouse,  is  a  shy,  forest-haunting  bird,  rarely  met  with, 
and  scarcely  ever  pursued  on  his  own  account  alone.  I  never 
saw  but  one  alive,  which  I  shot  on  the  Penobscot,  in  Maine.  It 
is,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  nowhere  plentiful,  not  even  in  its  north- 
ei'n  haunts. 

The  seventh  species,  the  Willow  Grouse,  is  stated  in  the  books 
to  exist  from  Maine  to  Labrador.  I  never,  however,  have  heard 
of  one  being  killed,  or  seen  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  above 
Quebec.  If  it  be  found  in  the  States,  it  is  so  rare  as  to  be  un- 
worthy of  notice,  as  a  species  of  game. 

The  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  and  tenth  varieties  are  indigenous  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  valley  of  the  Columbia,  and  will 
probably  be,  one  day,  added  to  the  list  of  American  game,  and 
fairly  pursued,  as  such. 

The  eight  and  ninth  inhabit  the  desolate  regions  northward  of 
Labrador,  and  Melville  Island,  and  the  banks  of  the  Churchill 
River,  where  no  one  is  very  like  to  follow  them  in  search  of 
sport.  Few  of  our  race  have  ever  seen  them  living,  and  they 
are  of  course  incapable  of  naturalization  to  the  southward. 

And  here  ends  the  list  of  our  game  land-birds,  proper— al- 
though as  I  have  stated,  two  or  three  varieties  of  those  which 
are  classed  by  the  naturalist  as  water-birds,  and  which  are  in 
some  sort  amphibious,  fall  under  the  sportsman's  head  of  Upland 
shooting.  It  is  on  account  of  this  peculiarity,  that  I  propose 
atter  enumerating  and  classifying  the  game  of  the  country  in 
general,  m  its  proper  orders,  families,  and  genera,  to  distinguish 


38 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Of  game  land-birds,  proper  then  Jl  u        -      , 
OENERA,  the  wild  Turkey  the  r  ?  ^"  '"  ^"*  ^"^^'^ 

America  there  exists  neither  PnJs.LZ     V         "'^''"'^'  '^ 
call  the  Ruffed  Grouse  or  A^  ^     "*  Pahtridge;  and  to 

by  those  namestTo'an  M   T"\^""^'"  '^*^  ^^  -"e^, 

callthemaamelclKa^dtntlrs^'^"^^  ^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^-^ 

Moreover,  of  all  the  various  species  bofl,  „r  r- 
comnaon  to  this  country,  there  aTbutt        /T'""'' *°"'' 

The  «rst,  third,  a„a  fourth  i^r  trVt-hr'-T''- 
the  waders,  include  some  of  our  choicest  a^d      Vt      ""'"■''• 

cock  foro,  the  types.  Of  th  st:^;d  td  rtt^  '°'  '^  ^°°''- 
second  family  al„„e,  the^„„„,fa„  of  „h Lh  Ve  d '"^"""""'  ""' 
Ihe  type,  comes  within  the  snher/ ,7  "'='' "™"""<» 

five  of  its  six  genera-the  It  1  ,  '^  "°""  '^  «'""'  •»" 
heing  omitted-Lose,  stJtTTj  '^  '''™'"«°'  ""'^ 
tain  more  species  than  all  the  r  Jt  „V  ""''  ""''  ""''''  c™" 

proceed  in  order,  of  the  flrl,  famll "«'.  "  'T''"-  »»'  - 
--two  genera,     .„,„,  otZfZt:,  Ra^  ''^-"  ^ 

eommoJT„tuZ:rvt:::„T:?  a^ri^*-  ^-"  --'^^  ■•» « 

marshes  from  Pennsylvania  eastward        """'"'   '"'^'   '»''  '"" 

Of  the  Rail,  three  species  are  well  v„„       . 
men.  ™'  '"•"wn  to  all  „„r  sports. 


GAME   OF   AMERICA. 


in  which  we 

ill  but    THREE 

Quail.     Here 
■  continent  of 
iDGE ;  and  to 
h  are  called, 
would  be  to 

e  and  Quail, 
former,  the 
iinoh  Quail, 
'  or  Canada, 
(lem. 

»  we  have  a 
;  all  of  two 
swimmers. 
lese  orders, 
"avorite  va- 
sh,  and  the 

■olopacidce, 
the  Wood- 
finiers,  the 
constitutes 
:ame;  but 
ingo,  only 
iver,  con- 
•     But  to 
iders,  we 

hich  is  a 
and  salt 

r  sports- 


39 


1st.  The  Virginia  Rail,  Rallus  Virginianus  ; 

2nd.  The  Clapper  Rail — Vulg.  Meadow,  or  Mud,  Hen — 
Rallas  Crepitans; 

3rd.  The  Common  Sora  Rail,  Rallus  CaroUnus,  which  is  the 
bird  killed  in  such  abundance  on  the  flats  and  reed-beds  of  the 
Delaware  in  autumn. 

The  second  family  of  this  order,  the  Gruidee,  of  which  the 
Crane  is  the  type,  containing  all  the  varieties  of  Heron,  Ibis, 
and  Bittern,  I  do  not  regard  as  game  ;  and  therefore  pass  in  si- 
lence. Of  the  next,  third,  family,  CharadriadcB,  we  have  all  the 
genera  but  one,  the  Charadrius,  Plover,  proper,  six  varieties — the 
Slrepsilas,  Turnstone  and  the  HamatopuSj  Oyster-catcher,  the  last 
named  hardly  being  entitled  to  the  name  of  game,  the  others  all, 
like  four-fifths  of  the  next  family,  being  included  under  the  vul- 
gar appellation  of  Bay  Snipe,  or  Bay  birds.  It  is  unnecessary, 
at  present,  to  enumerate  all  the  species  of  these  genera,  as,  in 
truth,  they  are  generally  of  small  value,  with  perhaps  one  excep- 
tion, the  Golden  Plover. 

The  fourth  family,  Scolopacida,  contains  almost  all  our  best 
and  most  delicious  species  for  the  table,  and  those  which  are 
most  eagerly  pursued  and  most  highly  prized  by  the  genuine 
sportsman. 

All  the  genera  of  this  family  are  game,  and  scarcely  one  but 
contains  some  favorite  species. 

The  first  is  Tringa,  Sandpiper,  of  which  we  have  eight  or  nine 
varieties,  classed  indiscriminately  with  the  next  two  genera,  as 
Buif  birds,  by  our  gunners. 

The  second,  Tetanus,  Tatler,  contains  seven  species,  all  of 
which  are  common  along  the   Atlantic  seaboard,  and  four,  at 

least,  of  which  are  universally  known  and  general  favorites. 

The  first  I  regard,  myself,  as  the  best  bird  that  flies,  in  an  epi- 
curean point  of  view,  not  excepting  even  the  world-famous  can- 
vass back.     The  varieties  are — 

1.  The  Upland  Plover,  Grass  Plover,  or  Frost  Bird,  Tota- 
vus  Bnrtramius  ; 

2.  Semi-pa lmated  Snipe,  or  Willet,  Tetanus  Semipalmatus  • 


40 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


3.  Spotted  Tatler,  Totams  MncuJarms  ; 

4.  Solitary  Tatler,  Tolams  SoUtarius  • 

rtZTr  '"^'^  '^^^""'  ^^^^^^  ^^''^-  ^^^'  ^-- 

m!:  a?d"""  ''"'"'  ''"^'"  ^^"^"  ^«S,  ro/«««,  F..> 

7.  Green  Shanks  Tatler,  Totams  Glottis. 

Of  these  the  Upland  Plover,  the  Willet,  and  the  two  Yellow 
Legs  are  very  general  favorites.     The  first  is  an  excellenrbi  d 
the^oth^s,  me  ;„...,  are,  nine  ti.es  out  of  ten,  uneatably  4' 

vishsir'  '""'  ^'"""'  ""''^''^  ""^  ^"*  -«  «P--  -hich 
The  Great  Marbled  Godwit,  or  Straight-billed  Curlew 

latlers  on  the  Long  Island  bays,  and  the  shores  of  New  Jersey 
The  fourth  genus,  Scolopa^,  has  three  specie,  known  to  eveT^ 
sportsman  ;  two  his  most  chosen  game.     They  are-  ^ 

1.  Wilson's   Snipe— vuW     Enalleb    «!n,v^      c    i 
gonii;  ^     English    b,nv^Q~ScoJopax   WiJ. 

3.  The  American  Woodcock,  Scolopax  Minor. 
The  other  genera,  each  containing  one  species,  are  the 

with  the  exception  „f  ,he  l..t,  all  falsely  terZl  L  'sle    O 

.KKV.  .hattheRed-hrea.tedS„ipe„fthLa.i^MLoT-«°°" 
wh,ch  frequents  the  sea-beach  or  salt  n.arshes  ,  the  other  tS 
.0  caled  are  Kovers,  Sandpipers,  Ta.lers,  Wtone    a;,,! 
Phalaropes,  and  others,  whose  names  are  legion-    but  rma' 
Smpe  among  them;   and  even  the  solitary  Red-breast^  T 
t^  un  er  some  suspicion  of  being  rather  /o^o^eXlkT 

ir:pt  sj;::  '""^'  -"  '^^  ^"^--^^  -^  -f-'-. 'un  ,^i 


't;H 


OAME   OF   AMERICA. 


41 


)ecie.s  which 


We  now  arrive  at  the  last  order,  Natatores,  swimmers,  of 
which,  to  take  cognisance,  under  the  head  of  its  second  family, 
Anatida.  The  second  genus  of  this  family,  Anser,  Goose,  gives 
us  four  species,  though  two,  the  third  and  fourth,  are  far  from 
common.  The  first  and  third  are  decidedly  the  best  of  our  sea 
fowl. 

1.  The  Canada  Goose — Wild  Goose — Anaer  Canadenaia  j 

2.  The  Barnacle  Goose,*  Anser  Leucopsia  ; 

3.  The  Brant  Goose — Brant — Anser  Bemicla  ; 

4.  The  White-fronted  Goose,  Anser  Albifrons  ;  and 

5.  The  Snow  Goose,  Anser  Hyperboreus. 

The  third  genus,  Swan,  affords  two  species  to  North  America, 
but  the  second  only  belongs  to  the  Eastern  States  ;  the  Trump- 
eter ranging  only  through  Northern  California  to  the  fur  coun- 
tries, from  westward  of  the  Ohio. 

1.  The  Trumpeter  Swan,  Gycnus  Buccinator  ;  and 

2.  The  American  Swan,  Gycnus  Americanus. 

The  fourth  genus,  Anas,  Duck,  contains  ten  species,  every  one 
of  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  fourth,  is  well  known  to  all 
sportsmen  ;  they  are  of  the  finest  quality  for  the  table,  and  pre- 
ferable to  all  others,  with  the  exception  of  the  Canvass  Back, 
and  perhaps  the  Red  Head.     They  are  as  follows  : 

1.  The  Mallard — vulg.  Green  Head — Anas  Boschas  ; 

2.  The  Dusky  Duck — vulg.  Black  Duck — Anas  Obscura  ; 

3.  The  Gadwall,  Anas  Strepera  ; 

4.  Brewer's  Duck,  Anas  Brewerii  ; 

5.  The  American  Widgeon,  Anas  Americana  ; 

6.  The  Pintail  Duck,  Anas  Acuta  ; 

7.  The  Wood  Duck,  Summer  Duck,  Anas  Sponsa  ; 

8.  American  Green-winged  Teal,!  Anas  Carolinenaia. 

»  I  have  my  doubts  whether  the  Barnacle  and  Brant  are  not  one  and  the 
•ame  bird,  though  at  different  ages,  and  in  different  states  of  plumage. 
t  I  believe  this  bird  to  be  identical  with  the  European  Teal,  Anas  Creccm. 


42 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


9.  The  B^VE-wmoED  Teal,*  Anas  Discors,  and 
10.    iHE  Shoveller,  Anas  Clypeata. 

above  their  race.     They  are-  Prominent 

1 .  The  Canvass  Back  Duck,  Fuligula  VaHsneria  ; 

^-     i  HE     Ked-HEADED     DlTCKt  — V    '^       P     '   ^      j        t^   . 

Marina;  '  ^''-^'^-l^ead— Fuligula 

3.  The  Scaup  Duck,  i^«%«/a  iif,.      .  . 

4«Jr  '''"■'"'^^'  ''^^'^'  ^''''''  ^-^'  ^"^''^  i^«> 

5.  The  Ruddy  Duck,  Fuligula  Mubida  ; 

6.  The  Pied  Duck,  Fuligula  Labradara  ; 

7.  The  Velvet  Duck,  Fuligula  Fusca  ; 

8.  The  Surf  Duck,  Fuligula  Perspiculata  ; 

9.  The  American  Scoter,  Fuligula  Americana; 

0.  The  Lider  Duck,  Fuligula  Mollissima  ; 

1.  The  Golden-eve  Duck,  Fuligula  Clangula  ; 

2.  The  Buffel-headed  Duck,  Fuligula  Albeola  ; 
13.  The  Harlequin  Duck,  Fuligula  Histrionica  ; 

n^^a^r^   ^"^'^— ^^-  «o-h.southerIy-^«. 

15.  The  King  Duck,  Fuligula  SpectabiUs  ;  and 

16.  The  Western  Duck,  Fuligula  Dispar. 

Jr'  ''''tT''"'  ^''^"*'  Merganser,  contains  three  well  known 
species,  which,  commonly  shot  and  of  rare  beautv   « J  T 

worthless  as  articles  o/food,  so  rank  Z^^^l^^;^ 
They  are,  as  follows :  ^  ^'^"• 

1.  The  GoosANDER-vuIg.  Sheldrake-i.f..^„,  M«r^«„,^  , 

2.  The  Red-breasted  Mero..ser,  Mergus  Serratl ;  and 

3.  The  Hooded  Merganser,  Mergus  CucuUatus. 


i!  :! 


GAME   OP   AMERICA 


43 


een  species, 
it  prominent 


1 — Fuligula 
Hgula  Rufi' 


srly— Fu- 


ell  known 
all  nearly 
teir  flesh. 


^anser  ; 
' ;  and 


my  of  Eu- 
other  way 
L 


i 

I 


>i9i 


Here  ends  what  may,  I  believe,  be  termed  a  complete  list  of 
all  the  game,  both  quadruped  and  winged,  of  the  United  States 
and  the  Provinces  ;  I  am  not  aware  of  a  single  omission  ;  per- 
haps, indeed,  in  the  latter  portion  of  my  catalogue,  the  fowl  es- 
pecially, I  have  admitted  some  genera,  which  are  of  so  rare 
occurrence  on  the  coast,  as  to  fall  seldom  before  the  gunner's 
aim  ;  and  which,  therefore,  can  hardly  be  enumerated  as  regularly 
game.  I  judged  it,  however,  betiei  to  err  on  this,  than  on  the 
other  side  of  the  question  ;  and  the  error,  if  error  there  be, 
will  be  rectified  when  I  come  to  speak  of  the  various  kinds  of 
shooting,  and  the  habits  of  the  animals  pursued  in  each. 

And  here  I  should,  perhaps,  apologize  to  my  readers  for  the 
apparent  but  necessary  dryness  of  this  part  of  my  work.  A 
catalogue  never  can  be  rendered  entertaining,  and  yet  it  is  indis- 
pensable. I  think  I  can  promise  that  future  pages  will  possess  more 
interest  to  the  general  reader,  although  I  should  strenuously 
urge  it  on  him,  who  desires  really  to  make  himscif  a  master 
of  the  subject,  not  to  skip  or  slur  over  the  above  list  of  names, 
but  to  fix  them  in  his  understanding  and  his  memory,  as  I  shall 
have  constant  occasion  to  refer  to  them  hereafter,  and  as  a  know- 
ledge of  them  is  absolutely  necessary  tc  the  acquisition  of  skill 
and  science  in  field  sports,  in  their  widest  range  and  most  liberal 
signification. 

I  now  come  to  the  subdivisions  of  my  subject,  according  to 
the  different  regions  of  country  to  which  the  different  kinds 
of  shooting  and  hunting,  and  the  different  species  of  game  be- 
long.    These,  it  appears  to  me,  are  threefold,  chiefly. 

First.  Upland  shooting,  which  may  be  termed  particularly  the 
field  sports  of  the  Northern  and  Midland  States,  consisting  in  the 
pursuit  of  small  game— as  the  Pinnated  and  Ruffed  Grouse,  the 
Quail,  the  Woodcock,  the  Snipe,  the  Upland  Plover,  the  Hare, 
the  Rail,  and  one  or  two  species  of  Duck,  which  are  found  only 
on  inland  streams  and  marshes — with  the  double  gun,  and  the 
trained  pointer,  setter,  spaniel,  or  retriever. 

Second.  Fowl  shooting,  whether  from  sailing-boats,  batteries, 
or  otherwise  ;  and,  under  this  head,  I  include  the  killing  of  the 


44 


PRANK   FORKSTEH's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


smaller  coast-birds,  as  Plovers,  Sandpipers,  and  the  like,  over 
stools,  as  they  are  called,  or  decoy  birds. 

Third.  Western  shooting,  which  may  be  termed  hunting,  as 
It  consists  of  the  pursuit  of  the  larger  animals,  as  the  Bison,  the 
Elk,  the  Bear,  the  Deer,  &c.,  either  with  the  aid  of  hounds  or  the 
speed  of  horses,  but  invariably  with  the  rifle  instead  of  the  shot- 
gun.    Even  the  pursuit  of  the  Turkey  is  a  species  of  still  hunt- 
ing, or  stalking,  rather  than  of  shooting  proper  ;  as  I  never  have 
heard  of  this  bird  lying  to,  or  being  killed  over,  setters,  and 
not  often  of  his  being  shot  on  the  wing,  or  with  the  fowling- 
piece.     I  am,  of  course,  not  unaware  that  all  the  smaller  kinds 
of  eastern  game  abound  to  the  westward,  but  as  the.  mode  of 
kilhng  them,  over  setters  or  pointers,  is  identical  with  that  used 
on  the  seaboard,  and  is  adopted  thence,  that  does  not,  I  think 
mihtate  against  the  justice  of  my  distinction.  ' 

Lastly.  The  hunting  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States 
must,  I  suppose,  find  a  place  ;  though,  in  truth,  the  deer-hunt- 
ing  IS  so  Idle  and  contemptible,  now-a-days,  in  that  part  of  the 
States,  as  to  be  hardly  worthy  of  notice  ;  while  the  pursuit  of 
the  Moose  and  Cariboo,  although  really  a  grand  field  sport,  and 
a  very  noble  exercise,  requiring  pluck,  power,  wind,  sinew, 
speed,  and  endurance,  is  so  rare  and  difficult  of  attainment,  as 
to  present  little  attraction  to  the  general  run  of  sportsmen 

TT  ^'^^T  ^"^^^'  '''''"'"^"*  ^  "^^  P^^^^^'i  t°  '         ''  ^ame  and 
Upland  shootmg,  connected  with  which  I  shall  dis,         in  their 

places,  the  use  of  the  fowling-piece,  the  art  of  shoot.      flving, 

the  breeds,  breeding,  diseases  and  management  of  dogs,  ai        ,ch 

other  points  as  shall  appear  to  flow  naturally  from  the  sub,.      • 

and  thjs  I  esteem  the  principal  portion  and  better  part  of  thJ 

work  before  me ;   and,  as  my  own  especial  hobby  and  chosen 

sport,  I  come  to  deal  with  it,  as  a  work  of  love  and  pleasure 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


45 


UPLAND  SHOOTING 

OF   THE 

NORTHERN  STATES  AND  BRITISH  PROVINCES. 


PLAND  shooting  as  it  is  under- 
stood by  American  sportsmen,  is 
the  distinctive  term,  not,  as  would 
appear  at  first  sight,  dividing  the 
sport  of  the  hill  from  that  of  the 
plain  country,  but  that  of  the  in- 
land, from  that  of  the  coast.  It 
includes,  therefore,  not  only  all 
game  of  the  order,  Rasorea,  the  home  of  which  is  in  thickets, 
mountain-sides,  stubbles,  or  maize-fields,  but  such  also  of  the 
Crrallatores,  or  waders,  as  dwell  either  in  inland  swampy  woods, 
fresh  meadows,  or  river-side  morasses ;  and,  farther  yet,  such 
of  the  Natatores,  swimmers,  as  are  found  exclusively  or  prin- 
cipally on  brooks,  rivers,  above  tide  water,  and  spring  marshes. 
By  upland  shooting,  in  a  word,  we  understand  all  that  is 
pursued  with  the  aid  of  pointers,  setters,  or  spaniels,  and  the 
ordinary  light  fowling-piece  ;  as  opposed  to  that  which  is  followed 
in  boats  with  heavy  ducking  guns,  and  by  the  aid  of  decoys,  or, 
as  they  are  here  termed,  stools. 

Of  all  sports  of  this  country,  therefore,  upland  shooting  is  that 
which  requires  in  the  sportsman  the  greatest  combination  of 
qualities,  the  greatest  skill  with  the  gun,  the  greatest  know- 
ledge of  the  habits  and  haunts  of  his  game,  the  greatest  science 
{n  the  management  of  his  dogs,  and  the  greatest  bodily  vigor 
and  endurance. 


i 


4<J 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


The  upland  shooter  of  America  does  not,  cannot,  select  his 
Stands,  or  easy  walking  ground,  for   getting  shots  and   killing- 
game,  leavmg  it  to  his  gamekeeper  or  beaters  to  hunt  his  dog« 
and  flush  his  birds  in  the  thicket,  so  that  they  shall  fly  out  before 
h.s  face-still  less  does  he,  like  the  deer  shooter,  ren.ain  listless 
and  Silent  at  his  stand,  until  his  guide,  a  practical  woodman, 
shall  find  the  quarry  and  hunt    it  toward  him,  so    that    per- 
chance, without  walking  fifty  yards  or  making  the  slightest 
exertion,  he  gets  his  point-blank  shot,  and  thinks  it  a  great 
matter  to  have  killed  a  big  helpless  animal,  as  big  as  a  jackass 
and  as  timid  as  a  calf,  literally  in  the  intervals  between  eatinj 
bread  and  cheese  and  drinking  brown  stout,  as  he  sits  on  a  moss- 
covered  log  to  leeward  of  the  runaway. 

No,  through  the  thickest  alder  swamp,  the  deepest  and  most 
boggy  marsh,  among  tussocks  knee-high,  and  fallen  trees,  and  in- 
terlacing vines  and  cat-briars-along  the  sharp  limestone  ledges 
and  through  the  almost  impervious  growth  of  the  rhododendron 
overcanopied  by  juniper  and  hemlock— over  mile  after  mile  of 
broad,  bare  hill-side  stubbles-through  black  morasses,  intersected 
by  broad  drains— trusting  to  his  own  sure  foot  and  even  stride,  he 
must  toil  on  after  his  game,  the  wildest,  fleetest,  wariest,  md 
sharpest-flying  of  all  the  fowls  of  the  air,  depending  on  his  own 
knowledge  of  their  seasons  and  their  habits  to  launch  his  trusty 
dogs  into  their  proper  haunts,  at  their  proper  hours  ;    on  his 
management  of  those  dogs  to  flush  them  fairly  within  shot,  and 
on  his  own  eye  and  hand  of  instinct  to  give  a  good  account  of 
them,  when  flushed  within  distance. 

The  perfection  to  which  some  men  have  carried  this  art  is 
almost  incredible— the  certainty  with  which  they  will  find  game 
on  the  same  tract  of  land,  with  another  party  who  shall  find  none 
—the  unerring  instinct  with  which  they  will  read  the  slightest 
signs  of  the  weather,  and  comprehend  the  smallest  indications 
of  the  whereabouts  of  their  gatne-the  readiness  with  which 
they  will  draw  conclusions  and  positive  deductions  from  signs 
which  to  others  seem  light  as  air— the  facility  with  which  they 
understand  their  dogs,  and  their  dogs  them-anu  lastly,  their 


I 
1 


II 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


47 


not,  select  hia 
s  and  killing" 
»unt  his  dog«, 
fly  out  before 
remain  listless 
:al  woodman, 
80  that,  per- 
the  slightest 
{.a  it  a  great 
as  a  jackass, 
tween  eating 
ts  on  a  moss- 

est  and  most 
trees,  and  in- 
estone  ledges 
hododendron 
after  mile  of 
s,  intersected 
'en  stride,  he 
wariest,  and 
f  on  his  own 
jh  his  trusty 
iirs  ;    on  his 
lin  shot,  and 
i  account  of 

d  this  art  is 
11  find  game 
ill  find  none 
he  slightest 

indications 
vith  which 

from  signs 
which  they 
lastly,  their 


\  m 


wonderful  accuracy,  rapidity  and  deliberate  promptitude  of  aim 
and  execution,  backed  as  these  are  by  the  great  improvements 
in  the  art  of  gunnery,  and  by  the  vast  superiority  of  the  percus- 
sion to  the  flint  lock,  are  such  as  would  make  our  ancestors,  of 
a  century  since,  despair  amid  their  admiration — such  as  consti- 
tute the  first-rate  game  shot  on  the  wing,  decidedly  the  greatest 
marksman  and  artist  with  the  gun,  be  the  other  what  he  may. 

For,  without  disparaging  the  beautiful  practice  of  the  rifle  or 
pistol,  it  may  be  aflirmed  safely  that  it  is  merely  mechanical,  and 
attainable  by  every  one  possessed  of  a  steady  hand  and  a  true 
eye ;  while  I  know  not  what  of  calculation,  of  intuition,  almost 
of  inspiration,  is  not  needed  to  constitute  a  crack  shot.  As  my 
poor  friend,  Cypress,  Jun.,  said,  in  one  of  his  inimitably  witty 
false  quotations,  purporting  to  be  from  Pliny's  chapter  on  Black 
Ducks,  "  Legere  quidem  et  acribere  est  padagogi,  sed  oplimi  col- 
lineare  est  Dei,"  which  he  rendered  somewhat  thus,  "  A  credita- 
ble scholar  can  be  made  by  the  schoolmaster,  but  a  crack  shot 
is  the  work  of  God,"  the  Latinity  being  equal  to  the  truth  of 
the  apopthegm. ' 

Now,  without  pretending  that  I  can  give  every  person  a  re- 
ceipt whereby  he  can  become  a  "  crack  shot,"  which  no  one,  I 
believe,  can  be,  unless  he  is  born  to  that  good  eminence,  or  even 
presuming  that  I  can  make  him  a  good  sportsman,  I  shall  pro- 
ceed to  set  down  such  facts  with  regard  to  the  habits  and  haunts, 
the  seasons  and  the  instincts  of  game,  as  I  can  derive  from  the  best 
sources,  with  such  directions  for  the  pursuit  and  killing  of  them 
as  many  years  experience  has  led  me  to  consider  the  most  likely 
to  attain  success. 

And  first  of  all,  we  will  consider  what  animals  come  under  the 
head  of  upland  game,  and  thence  proceed  to  their  generic  distinc- 
tions and  habits,  as  recorded  by  our  greatest  naturalists,  after 
which  we  shall  be  led  in  due  season  to  my  own  personal  experi- 
ences and  observations. 

Our  upland  game  consists  then,  as  we  find  it  here  in  the 
northern  and  north-eastern  parts  of  North  America,  of  three 
species  of  grouse  proper — one  of  them  very  rare  and  very  rarely 


48 


*RANK   FOBESTEb's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


killed  over  dog»-one  species  ot  quail-three  varieties  of  wader. ; 
several  species  of  duck,  and  two  of  hares. 

The  grouse  are,  The  PmNAXED  G„ouse,  Telrao  Cupido,  com- 
monly  known  as  the  Prairie-Hen,  or  Healh-Hen. 

The  Ruffed  Grouse,  Tetrao  UmbeUns,  vulgarly  called  th*. 
Par/nrf^e  m  New  England  and  New  York,  and  as  vulgarly  the 
r/ieasant  in  New  Jersey  and  Southward. 

The  Canada  Grouse,  Tetrao  Canadensis,  commonly  known 
as  the  Spruce  Partridge. 

I  trust  that  the  remarks  I  have  already  made,  and  the  clearly 
d,st.nct,ve  proofs  which  I  shall  hereafter  adduce  from  the  best 
orn.tholog.sts,  will  lead  sportsmen  to  act  in  earnest  about  reform- 
.ng  the  sporting  vocabulary,  and  eschewing  the  snobbish  and  ie- 
norant  provincialism,  or  cockneyism-for  such  it  indeed  is,  of 
calhng  Grouse,  "  Pheasant  and  Partridge,"  and  thereby  destroy- 
mg  all  cons.stency  in  the  dialect,  and  all  community  in  the  feel- 
mgs  of  the  sporting  world. 

The   Quail   is,   The    American    Quail,   Orlyx    Virginiana 
properb^  known  in  New  Jersey  and  eastward  as  Q,.ail /SoZ' 
ly  to  the  Southward  as  Partridge.  ^ 

The  Waders  are.  The  American  Woodcock,  Scolopax  Minor 
srve  M^croptera  Americana-ihe  latter,  I  conceive,  T  causeless' 
distinction  and  subdivision -commonly  called  in  Ihe  coun  ^ 

n^me  7  V  I        7  "'  ^'^-'^^'^^  ^"'^^  '  ^^ile  its  correc 
name.  Woodcock,  is  often  given  to  the  larger  red-polled  Wood- 
DOCK  or. 

asS;^r.:r  ''^^''  ^'''""^'"  '^'''''  ^^-^^^-^^  ^-- 

The  Upland  Sandpiper,  Bartram^s  Tatler,  Trivga  Barira- 
ma,  sn.e  Totanus  Bartramius,  commonly  known  as  the  Upland 
Plover,  Grass  Plover,  or  Frost  Bird 

The  Ducks,  which  may  be  classed  as  Upland  game,  are  Thf 
BusKv  D.cK,  Anas  Obscura,  commonly  known  as  the  Bla^ 

The  Mallard,  Anas  Boschas,  vulg.  Green  Head. 
The  Green-winged  Teal,  Anas  Carolinensis. 


ieties  of  wader« ; 

to  Citpi'do,  com- 

jarly  called   th»» 
as  vulgarly  the 

mmonly  known 

and  the  clearly 
I  from  the  best 
t  about  reform- 
nobbish  and  ig- 
t  indeed  is,  of 
ereby  destroy- 
ty  in  the  feel- 

IX    Virgivianaj 
2tiail ;  wrong- 

eolopax  Minor, 
e,  a  causeless 
the  country, 
bile  its  correct 
■polled  Wood- 

monly  known 

'inga  Bartra- 
IS  the  Upland 

me,  are  The 
IS  the  Black 


UPLAND    8HOOTINO.  40 

Thk  Blue-winoed  Teal,  Anas  Discors. 

TiiK  Wood  Duck,  or  Summer  Duck,  Anas  Sponaa. 

The  Pintail  Duck,  Anas  Acuta,  vulg.  Sprig  Tail,  Pigeon  Tail. 

One  or  two  other  varieties  of  this  family  are  common  either 
to  both  salt  and  fresh  waters,  or  of  so  rare  occurrence  as  to  re- 
quire no  notice  ;  of  the  former  I  will  merely  name  Thk  Shovea.- 
LEH,  Anas  Clypeata,  and  The  Golden  Eye,  Anas  Clangula  :  of 
the  latter.  The  Gadwall,  Anaa  Slrepera. 

The  Hares  are.  The  Common  American  Hare,  Lepua  Ameri- 
canus,  commonly  and  improperly.  Rabbit. 

The  Northern  Hare,  Lepua  VirginianuSy  vulgarly  and  im- 
properly. White  Rabbit. 

The  Common  Sora  Rail,  Rallua  Carolinua,  must  be  classed 
under  a  sporting  head,  peculiar  to  itself— as  it  is  shot  from  boats, 
apart  from  any  other  species  of  game,  and  in  different  localities, 
though  in  the  same  manner,  with  some  exceptions,  as  wild  fowl 
on  the  coast. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Wild  Turkey,  which  is  unquestiona- 
bly the  noblest  bird  of  the  order,  Rasores,  and  as  such  the  king  of 
American  game,  the  three  Grouse  which  we  possess  must  take 
the  lead ;  and  first  in  place,  as  in  size  and  honor,  I  assign  the 
palm  to 


THE    PINNATED    GROUSE. 

Tetrao  Cupido—lAnn,  Wilson,  Audubon.  La  Gelinotte  Huppeh 
d'Amenque—Brissot.  The  Frairie-Hen,  Grouse,  or  Heath- 
Hen. 

"  Male,  18.27i. 

"  Abundant  from  Texas,  throughout  all  the  Western  prairies, 
to  very  high  up  the  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Illinois  and  Ohio  ;  al- 
most extirpated  in  the  Middle  and  Eastern  Districts.     Resident. 

"  Adult  Male. 

"  Bill  short,  robust ;  upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  outline, 

VOL«  !•  ^ 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD    SPORTS. 

curved,  the  edges  overlapping,  the  tip  declinate*  and  roundtd. 
Nostrils  basal,  roundish,  concealed  by  the  feathers.  Head 
small,  neck  rather  long,  body  bulky.  Feet  of  ordinary  length, 
tarsus  short-feathered,  toes  covered  above  with  numerous  short 
scutella,t  marginate,t  and  pectinate,§  hind  toe  extremely  short, 
two  lateral  equal,  middle  toe  much  longer ;  claws  of  ordinary 
length,  strong,  arched,  rather  obtuse,  concave  beneath. 

"  Plumage  compact,  the  feathers  generally  broad  and  rounded, 
those  of  the  head  and  neck  narrow,  and  proportionally  shorter^ 
excepting  of  the  crown,  which  are  elongated.     Two  tufts  of 
lanceolate  elongated  feathers   on  the  side  of  the  neck,  under 
which  is  an  oblong  bare  space  on  either  side  capable  of  beincr  in- 
flated.  Lower  tibialll  and  tarsalir  feathers  short,  soft  and  blended 
Wmgs   short  and  curved,  the  primaries   strong  and  narrow  • 
fourth  longest,  third  and  fifth  nearly  equal,  second  longer  than 
sixth,  first  much  shorter.     Tail  very  short,  much  .ounded,  slop- 
mg  on  both  sides,  of  eighteen  broad,  rounded  feathers. 

"  Bill  dusky,  paler   beneath  ;  iris  brown,  toes  dull  yellow 
claws  grayish  brown  ;  the  general  color  of  the  upper  parts  is 
blackish  brown,  transversely  marked  with  broad,  undulatin- 
bands  of  light  yellowish  red  ;  the  wing  coverts  and  secondaries 
of  a  lighter  brown,  tinged  with  gray,  and  barred  with  paler  red 
the  latter  only  on  the  outer  webs  ;  primary  quills  grayish  brown ' 
with  black  shafts,  and  spots  of  pale  reddish  on  the  outer  webs 
excepting  toward  the  end.     Tail  dark  grayish  brown,  narrowly 
tipped  with  dull  white,  the  two  middle  feathers  mottled  with 
brownish  red.     Space  from  the  bill  to  the  eye,  a  band  from  the 
lower  mandible  over  the  cheek  and  throat,  pale  yellowish  red  or 
cream  color ;  a  band  of  blackish  brown  under  the  eye,  including 
the  ear  coverts,  and  another  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long  on 

•  Declinate — Bent  downward. 

t  Scutella—ScahB  overlapping,  like  tiles  or  shingles. 

t  Marginate—H&^ring  margins  or  borders. 

II  Pectinate— Toothed,  like  a  comb. 

§  Ttftja;— Belonging  to  the  tibia,  or  thigh. 

t  TarsoZ— Belonging  to  the  tareua,  or  siiank. 


*  and  roundt'd. 
Bathers.  Head 
rdinary  length, 
lumerous  short 
ctremely  short, 
^s  of  ordinary 
neath. 

d  and  rounded, 
onally  shorter, 

Two  tufts  of 
B  neck,  under 
)le  of  being  in- 
"t  and  blended. 

and  narrow  ; 
id  longer  than 
lounded,  slop- 
lers. 

dull  yellow, 
Jpper  parts  is 
i,  undulating 
d  secondaries 
ith  paler  red, 
-ayish  brown, 
B  outer  webs, 
■vn,  narrowly 
iDottled  with 
and  from  the 
lowish  red  or 
ye,  including 
half  long  on 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


61 


■w 


•':4 


the  side  of  the  throat.     Membrane  above  the  eye  scarlet.    Bare 
skin  of  the  sounding  bladder  orange.     The  longest  feathers  of 
the  neck  tufts  are  dark  brown  on  the  outer  webs,  pale  yellowish 
red  and  margined  with  dusky  on  the  inner,  excepting  the  low- 
est, which  are  all  brownish  black.     The  lower  parts  are  marked 
with  large  transverse  curved  bands  of  grayish  brown  and  pale 
yellowish  gray,  the  tints  deeper  on  the  anterior  parts  and  under 
the  wings.     Under  tail  coverts  arranged  in  three  sets,  the  mid- 
dle feathers  convex,  involute,  white,  with  two  concealed  brown 
spots  ;  the  lateral  larger,  of  the  same  form,  abrupt,  variegated 
with  dusky  red  and  white,  the  extremity  of  the  latter  color,  but 
with  a  very  narrow  terminal  margin  of  black.     The  tibial  and 
tarsal  feathers  are  gray,  obscurely  and  minutely  banded  with 
yellowish  brown. 

"  Length  18  inches  ;  extent  of  wings,  27i  ;  bill  along  the 
back,  r\  ;  along  the  edge,  fS ;  tarsus,  Vj  ;  weight,  lib.  13oz. 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female  is  considerably  smaller  than  the  male,  and  wants 
the  crest,  neck-tufts  and  air-bags,  but  in  other  respects  resembles 
him." — Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

Attagen  Americana,  Brissot,  1,  p.  69— Pinnated  Heath-Cock, 
Bonnasa  Cupido,  Steph.  Sh.  cont.  11,  p.  299— Tetrao  Cupido, 
Bonap.  Synop,  p.  126. 

"  Before  I  enter  on  a  detail  of  the  observations  which  I  have 
myself  personally  made  on  this  singular  species,  I  shall  lay  be- 
fore the  reader  a  comprehensive  and  very  circumstantial  memoir 
on  the  subject,  communicated  to  me  by  the  writer.  Dr.  Samuel 
L.  Mitchill,  of  New  York,  whose  exertions  both  in  his  public 
and  private  capacity,  in  behalf  of  science,  and  in  elucidating  the 
natural  history  of  his  country,  are  well  known  and  highly  honor- 
able to  his  distinguished  situation  and  abilities.     That  peculiar 
tract,  generally  known  by  the  name  of  the  Brushy  Plains  of  Long 
Island,  having  been  from  time  immemorial  the  resort  of  the  bird 
now  before  us,  some  account  of  this  particular  range  of  country 
seemed  necessarily  connected  with  the  subject,  and  has  accord- 
ingly been  obligingly  attended  to  by  the  learned  Professor  : 


It2 


fRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


"  *  New  York,  Sept.  19,  1810. 


"'Dear  Sir,— It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  reply  to  your 
letter  of  the  12th  inst.,  asking  of  me  information  poncerning  the 
urouse  of  Long  Island. 

"  *  The  birds,  which  are  known  there  emphatically  by  the  name 
of  Grouse,  inhabit  chiefly  the  forest  range.  This  district  of  the 
island  may  be  estimated  as  being  between  forty  and  fifty  miles 
in  length,  extending  from  Bethphage,  in  Queen's  County,  to  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Court-house,  in  Suffolk.  Its  breadth  is  not 
more  than  six  or  seven.  For  though  the  island  is  bounded  by 
the  Sound,  separating  it  from  Connecticut  on  the  north-  and  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  on  the  south,  there  is  a  margin  of  several  miles 
on  each  side  in  the  actual  possession  of  human  beings 

"  *  The  regions  in  which  these  birds  reside  lie  mostly  within  the 
towns  of  Oysterbay,  Huntington,  Islip,  Smithstown  and  Brooklyn; 
though  It  would  be  incorrect  to  say  that  they  were  not  to  be  met 
with  sometimes  in  River  Head  and  Southampton.  This  territory 
has  been  defined  by  some  sportsmen  as  situated  between  Hemp- 
stea^  Plain  on  the  «.est  and  Shinnecock  Plain  on  the  east. 

"  '  The  more  popular  name  for  them  is  Heath-Hens.  By  this 
they  are  designated  in  the  act  of  our  Legislature  for  the  preser- 
vation of  them  and  of  other  game.  I  well  remember  the  passing 
of  this  law.  The  bill  was  introduced  by  Cornelius  J.  Bogart, 
*^q.,  a  Member  of  Assembly  from  the  city  of  New  York  It 
was  in  the  month  of  February,  1791,  the  year  when,  as  a  repre- 
sentative from  my  native  county  of  Queen's,  I  sat  for  the  first 
time  in  Legislature. 

"  '  The  statute  declares  among  other  things,  that  "  the  person 
who  shall  kill  any  Heath-Hen  within  the  counties  of  Suffolk  or 
Queen's,  between  the  1st  day  of  April  and  the  5th  day  of  Octo- 
ber  shall  for  any  such  offence  forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  two 
dollars  and  a  half,  to  be  recovered  with  costs  of  suit  by  any  per 
son  who  shall  prosecute  for  the  same  before  any  Justice  of  the 
Peace  m  either  of  said  counties,  the  one  half  to  be  paid  to  plain- 
tiff and  the  otiier  half  to  the  overseers  of  the  poor  ;  and  if  anv 
Heath-Hen  so  killed  shall  be  found  in  the  possession  of  any  per 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


63 


•.  19,  1810. 

reply  to  your 
«ncerning  the 

y  by  the  name 
district  of  the 
nd  fifty  miles 
iounty,  to  the 
Jreadth  is  not 

bounded  by 
north-  and  the 
several  miles 
igs. 

ly  within  the 
nd  Brooklyn; 
>ot  to  be  met 
'his  territory 
iveen  Hemp- 
the  east. 
ns.     By  this 

the  preser- 
'  the  passing 
s  J.  Bogart, 
f  York.  It 
,  as  a  repre- 
br  the  first 

'  the  person 
Suffolk  or 
ay  of  Octo- 
sum  of  two 
t>y  any  per- 
tice  of  the 
id  to  plain- 
and  if  any 
of  any  per 


son,  he  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  the  offence  and  suffer  the 
penalty.  But  it  is  provided  that  no  defendant  shall  be  convicted 
unless  the  action  shall  be  brought  within  three  months  after  the 
violation  of  the  law." 

The  country  selected  by  these  exquisite  birds  requires  a  more 
particular  description.      You  already  understand  it  to  be  the 
midland  and  interior  district  of  the  island.     The  soil  of  this 
island  is,  generally  speaking,  a  sandy  or  gravelly  loam.     In  the 
parts  less  adapted  to  tillage,  it  is  more  of  an  unmixed  sand. 
This  is  so  much  the  case,  that  the  shore  of  the  beaches  beaten 
by  the  ocean  affords  a  material  from  which  glass  has  been  pre- 
pared.    Silicious  grains  and  particles  predominate  in  the  region 
chosen  by  the  Heath-Hens  or  Grouse ;  and  here  there  are  no 
rocks,  and  very  few  stones  of  any  kind.     This  sandy  tract  ap- 
pears  to  be  a  dereliction  of  the  ocean,  but  is  nevertheless  not 
doomed  to  total  sterility.     Many  thousand  acres  have  been  re- 
claimed from  the  wild  state  and  rendered  very  productive  to 
man ;  and  within  the  towns  frequented  by  these  birds,  there  are 
numerous   inhabitants,   and   among   them   some   of    our   most 
wealthy  farmers.     But  within  the  same  limits  there  are  also 
tracts  of  great  extent,  where  men  have  no  settlements,  and  others 
where  the  population  is  spare  and  scanty.     These  are,  however, 
by  no  means  naked  deserts ;  they  are,  on  the  contrary,  covered 
with  trees,  shrubs  and  smaller  plants.     The  trees  are  mostly 
pitch-pine,  of  inferior  size,  and  white-oaks  of  a  small  growth. 
They  are  of  a  quality  very  fit  for  burning.     Thousands  of  cords 
of  both  sorts  of  fire-wood  are  annually  exported  from  these 
barrens.     Vast  quantities  are  occasionally  destroyed  by  the  fires 
which,  through  carelessness  or  accident,  spread  far  and  wide 
through  the  woods.     The  city  of  New  York  wUl  probably  for 
ages  derive  fuel  from  these  grounds.    The  land,  after  being  well 
cleared,  yields  to  the  cultivator  poor  crops.     Unless,  therefore, 
he  can  help  it  by  manure,  the  best  disposition  is  to  let  it  grow 
up  to  forest  again. 

"  '  Experience  has  proved  that  in  a  term  of  forty  or  fifty  years, 
the  new  growth  of  timber  will  be  fit  for  the  axe.     Hence  it  may 


64 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


be  perceived  that  the  reproduction  of  trees,  and  the  protection 
they  afford  to  Heath-Hens,  would  be  perpetual,  or  in  other 
words,  not  circumscribed  by  any  calculable  time,  provided  the 
persecutors  of  the  latter  would  be  quiet.  Benealh'  these  tres 
grow  more  dwarfish  oaks,  overspreading  the  surface,  sometimes 
w  h  here  and  there  a  shrub,  and  sometimes  a  thicket.  These 
atter  are  from  about  two  to  ten  feet  in  height.  When  they  are 
the  pnnc.pal  product,  they  are  called,  in  common  conversation, 

Amonrih     .    ;  Tl;[''  *'^^  ^^°"  "^  *^™^^  hrushy  plain. 
Among   h.s  hardy  shrubbery  may  frequently  be  seen  the  creep- 

^^::7^^^^  P-idge-berry,  covering  the  sand  with  ^s 

on'  1^"  '^^y^^P'^^^  ^h«Pl-»t  which  produces  hurtleberries  sprouts 
up  an^ong  the  other  natives  of  the  soil.     These  are  the  more 
Z!T' ;  though  I  ought  to  inform  you,  that  the  hills  reach 
ng  from  east  to  west  and  forming  the  spine  of  the  island,  sup- 
port kalmias,  h.ckones,  and  many  other  species;  that  I  have 
seen  azahas  and  andromedas,  as  I  passed  through  the  wilder! 
ness  and  that  where  there  is  water,  cranberries,  afders,  beeches, 
mapl ,.,  and  other  lovers  of  moisture,  take  their  stations.     This 
reg.on   situated  thus  between  the  more  thickly  inhabited  strips 
or  be  ts  on  the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  island,  is  much  tra- 
bl!  of  patls^^^'"''  '"'^  intersected  accordingly  by  a  great  num- 

"  '  As   to   the   birds   themselves,   the  information  I  possess 
scarcely  amounts  to  an  entire  history.     You  who  know  the  dif- 
ficulty of  collecting  facts,  will   be  most  ready  to  excuse  my 
deficiencies.     The  information  I  give  you  is  such  as  I  rely  on 
For  the  purpose  of  gathering  the  materials,  I  have  repeatedly 
visited  their  haunts.     I  have  likewise  conversed  with  several 
men  who  were   brought   up   at  the   precincts   of  the   Grouse 
ground,  who  had  been  witnesses  of  their  habits  and  manners 
who  were  accustomed  to  shoot  them  for  the  market,  and  who' 
have  acted  as  guides  foi  gentlemen  who  go  the  ^  for  sport. 

5«/A^-An  adult  Grouse,  when  fat,  weighs  as  much  as  a 
barn-door  fowl  of  moderate  size,  or  about  three  pounds  avoirdu- 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


55 


I  the  protection 
il,  or  in  other 
I,  provided  the 
ith  these  trees 
ace,  sometimes 
licket.     These 
Vhen  they  are 
conversation, 
brushy  plains. 
Ben  the  creep- 
I  sand  with  its 

•erries  sprouts 
are  the  more 
e  hills  reach- 
>  island,  sup- 
that  I  have 
1  the  wilder- 
ers,  beeches, 
itions.     This 
tabited  strips 
is  much  tra- 
i  great  num- 

>n  I  possess 
now  the  dif- 

excuse  my 
IS  I  rely  on. 
5  repeatedly 
'^ith  several 
the  Grouse 
id  manners, 
it,  and  who 
T  sport. 

much  as  a 
ds  avoirdu- 


poise.  But  the  eagerness  of  the  sportsmen  is  so  great,  that  a 
huge  proportion  of  those  they  kill  are  but  a  few  months  old, 
aiul  have  not  attained  their  complete  growth.  Notwithstanding 
the  protection  of  the  law,  it  is  very  common  to  disregard  it. 
The  retired  nature  of  the  situation  favors  this.  It  is  well  under- 
stood that  an  arrangement  can  be  made  which  will  blind  and 
silence  informers,  and  the  gun  is  fired  with  impunity  for  weeks 
before  the  time  prescribed  in  the  act.  To  prevent  this  unfair 
and  unlawful  practice,  an  association  was  formed  a  few  years 
ago,  under  the  title  of  the  '  Brush  Club,''  with  the  express  and 
avowed  intention  of  enforcing  the  game  law.  Little  benefit, 
however,  has  resulted  from  its  laudable  exertions  ;  and,  under  a 
conviction  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  poachers  away,  the  so- 
ciety declined. 

"  '  At  present  the  statute  may  be  considered  as  operating  very 
little  towards  their  preservation.  Grouse,  especially  full-grown 
ones,  are  becoming  less  frequent.  Their  numbers  are  gradually 
diminishing  ;  and,  assailed  as  they  are  on  all  sides,  almost  with- 
out cessation,  their  scarcity  may  be  viewed  as  foreboding  their 
eventual  extermination. 

" '  Price. — Twenty  years  ago,  a  brace  of  Grouse  could  be  bought 
for  a  dollar.  They  cost  now  from  three  to  five  dollars.  A 
handsome  pair  seldom  sells  in  the  New  York  market  now-a-days 
for  less  than  thirty  shillings — three  dollars  and  seventy-five 
cents — nor  for  more  than  forty,  five  dollars. 

"  '  These  prices  indicate,  indeed,  the  depreciation  of  money  and 
the  luxury  of  eating.  They  prove  at  the  same  time  that  Grouse 
are  become  rare  ;  and  this  fact  is  admitted  by  every  man  who 
seeks  them,  whether  for  pleasure  or  profit. 

"  '  Amours. — The  season  for  pairing  is  in  March,  and  the  breed- 
ing time  is  continued  through  April  and  May.  Then  the  male 
Grouse  distinguishes  himself  by  a  peculiar  sound.  When  he 
utters  it,  the  parts  about  the  throat  are  sensibly  inflated  and 
swelled.  It  may  be  heard  on  a  still  morning  for  three  or  more 
miles ;  some  say  they  have  perceived  it  as  far  as  five  or  six. 
This  noise  is  a  sort  of  ventriloquism.     It  does  not  strike  the  ear 


66 


FRANK    forester's    PfELD  SPORTS. 


mile  or  two  dfstinf    ru-       .    •   l    .  ""'  "^  *  ^"'<=e  a 

iwo  distant.    This  note  is  highly  characteristir     TK       u 

very  neculiar   if  Jo  *  i  J  ^'"ii«ciensiic.    1  hough 

m.o  place,  of  safety,  .Keir  anxioujpar  Jb    J  J.^^^ltra;:? 
bydroop,„g  .„d  fluttering  her  wings,  ,i„,pf„g    Wtt  1° 
ro.|,„g  over  .„  the  dirt,  and  other  pretenceTonnabiC  wt' 

'•"Foorf.— A  favorite  article  of  their  diet  is  the  jyea/A  77i,„    / 

....r;:bei:r;n:trt::~^^^^^^^^^^ 

on  acorns  and  the  buds  of  trees  which  have  shil  the     ,        ^ 
In  .  eir  stomachs  have  been  sometimes  obJervedlhe  1    v^T, 
pant  supposed  to  be  a  winter-green  ,  and  it  is  s  W  when  thev 
e  much  pmched    they  betake  themselves  to  the  bids  „f   he 
pme.     In   convenient  places  they  have  been  know„  .„       7 
c  eared  fields  and  regale  themselves  on  .he  ^ves  riover^J      - 
od  gunners  have  reported  that  they  have  been  known  to  .r" 
r,  T"  ""'"^^  °' ''""'"''''''  "^  f'-^^  "P  '"e  grain" 

their^r  nJr  ^r„:trr"-'"''"r'"°""'°-'-' 
-  .0  migration.  on";r:;t:nt;:rdrgro:^^^^^^^ 

perch  on  the  upper  branches  of  pi„e  trees.     Th:y  avoid  'll' 


s-f 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


67 


!s  him  with  the 
fi,  of  a  voice  a 
ristic.  Though 
mblance  to  the 
er. 

1  recesses  very 
» ten  to  twelve 
sembhng  those 
otected  by  her 
much  resem-> 
tly  leads  them 
mins  of  maize 
elling  horses, 
e  passengers, 
'he  little  ones 
are  skulking 
the  spectator 
ng  the  path, 
ility  to  walk 

th-Hen  plum 
lurtleberries 
re  occasion- 
bsist  chiefly 
leir  leaves, 
leaves  of  a 
when  they 
'uds  of  the 
n  to   enter 
clover,  and 
wn  to  tres- 
ins. 

Jwntoquit 
ly  disposi- 
now,  tliey 
avoid  w  et 


and  swampy  places,  and  are  remarkably  attached  to  dry  ground. 
The  low  and  open  brush  is  preferred  to  high  and  shrubby  thick- 
ets. Into  these  latter  places  they  fly  for  refuge,  when  closely 
pressed  by  the  hunters ;  and  here,  under  a  stiff'  and  impenetrable 
cover,  they  escape  the  pursuit  of  dogs  and  men.  Water  is  so 
seldom  met  with  on  the  true  GRousE-ground,  that  it  is  necessary 
to  carry  it  along  for  the  pointers  to  drink.  The  flights  of  Grouse 
are  short,  but  sudden,  rapid  and  whirring.  I  have  not  heard  of 
any  success  in  taming  them.  They  seem  to  resist  all  attempts  at 
domestication  In  this,  as  well  as  in  many  other  respects,  they 
resemble  the  Quail  of  New  York,  or  the  Partridge  of  Penn- 
sylvania 

'* '  Manners. — During  the  period  of  mating,  and  while  the  fe- 
males are  occupied  in  incubation;  the  males  have  a  practice  of 
assembling  principally  by  themselves.     To  some  select  and  cen- 
tral spot,  where  there  is  very  little  underwood,  they  repair  from 
the  adjoining   district.     From   the  exercises  performed  there, 
this  is  called  a  scratching-place.     The  time  of  meeting  is  the 
break  of  day.     As  soon  as  the  light  appears,  the  company  as- 
sembles from  every  side,  sometimes  to  the  number  of  forty  or 
fifty.     When  the  dawn  is  passed,  the  ceremony  begins  by  a  low 
tooting  from  one  of  the  cocks.     This  is  answered  by  another. 
They  then  come  forth,  one  by  one,  from  the  bushes,  and  strut 
about  with  all  the  pride  and  ostentation  they  can  display.  Their 
necks  are  incurvated,  the  feathers  on  them  are  erected  into  a  sort 
of  ruff";   the  plumes  of  the  tails  are  expanded  like  fans  ;  they 
strut  about  in  a  style  resembling,  as  nearly  as  small  may  be  il- 
lustrated by  great,  the  pomp  of  the  Turkey-Cock.     They  seem 
to  vie  with  each  other  in  stateliness,  and,  as  they  pass  each  other, 
frequently  cast  looks  of  insult  and  utter  notes  of  defiance.    These 
are  the  signals  for  battles.      They  engage  with  wonderful  spirit 
and  fierceness.     During  thesfe  contests,  they  leap  a  foot  or  two 
from  the  ground,  and  utter  a  cackling,  screaming  and  discordant 
cry.    They  have  been  found  in  these  places  of  resort  even  earlier 
than  the  appearance  of  light  in  the  east.     This  fact  leads  to  the 
belief,  that  a  part  of  them  assemble  over  night.  The  rest  join  them 


68 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


.n    he  morn.ng.     Th,,  lead,  .„  .he  farther  belief  that  they  r„.„t 
o    the  ground  ,  and  the  opinion  i,  confirmed  by  the  discovery  of 
Me  r,ng,  of  dung,  apparently  deposited  by  a  Hock  which  had 
l-^ed  the  n,gh.  together.     After  the  appearance  of  the  su., 
„7    7r:i.    ?"'"  ""■"'  °'  ^'"■"'"'''°  "'"«'  """  otien  dis. 
IZtoC'  """""'  """  '  '""  ----^  "  >-  ^-  fo, 
"  'The  destroyer,  construct  for  themselves  lurking-holes  made 
of  p,  e  branches,  called  bougK.kou,e>,  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
parade,  and  h.ther  they  repair  with  their  fowllng.pLes,  in  he 
^t^rpar.  of  the  night,  and  wait  the  appearanc'e'f  th:  bids 
Waiting  the  monaent  when  two  are  proudly  eyeing  each  other 
or  engaged  ,n  battle,  or  when  a  greater  number  ca/be  see^in  a 
range,  they  pour  on  them  a  destructive  charge  of  shot      This 

ZTJ^IT.      T'T  """"^  """  -P-tedly  disturbed, 
are  afraid  to  assemble.     On  approaching  the  spot  to  which  thei, 
instinct  prompts  .hem,  they  perch  on  .he  neighboring  teesf 
stead  of  alighting  at  the  scratching-place ;  and  it  remains  to  bo 
observed  how  far  the  restless  and  tormenting  spirit  of  the  marks! 
man  may  alter  the  nature  and  habits  of  the  o'rouse,  and  ob  ig. 
them  to  new  ways  of  life.     They  commonly  keep    ogether  fn 
coveys  or  packs,  as  the  phrase  is,  „„.i,  the  pairing  selon      A 
full  pack  consists,  of  coarse,  of  ten  or  a  do^en.     Two  packt 
have  been  known  to  associate.     I  lately  heard  of  one  whose 

21lf:     r  r        T  '"'''""'  ""^  ^  ■"'•«'  ""^  •>«"»  »We  to  shoo' 
a  most  a  whole  pack,  without  making  any  of  them  take  win! 
n  like  manner,  the  men  lying  in  concealment  near  .he  scrS '    " 
mg-places,  have  been  known  to  discharge  several  guns    e  ore 
e  ther  he  report  of  the  explosion  or  the  sighfof  their  won  Id 

remaTke    t:aT'  7""  """  '"""  '°  "'"•■'•     "  >■-  ^^  '""^^ 
nick    f  r  ?  '  °°"''"'"''  "'V'^""'"  have  surrounded  a 

pack  of  GaousB,  the  birds  seldom  or  never  rise  upon  their  1. 
tons  while  they  are  encircled;    but  each  runs  along  un.U  i 
passes  the  person  that  is  nearest,  and  then  flutters  off  with    h. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


59 


hat  they  roost 
3  discovery  of 
ck  which  had 
e  of  the  sun, 
Ben  often  dis- 
has  been  for 

g-holes  made 
yards  of  the 
aieces,  in  the 
of  the  birds. 
;  each  other, 
be  seen  in  a 
shot.     This 
such  an  ex- 
y  disturbed, 
which  their 
ig  trees,  in 
nains  to  be 
f  the  marks- 
and  oblige 
ogether,  in 
season.     A 
Two  packs 
one  whose 
lapt  to   be 
le  to  shoot 
take  wing.    - 
le  scratch- 
Lins  before 
'  wounded 
sen  farther 
rounded  a 
their  pin- 
g  until  it 
M'ith  the 


OT 


utmost  expedition.  As  you  have  made  no  enquiry  of  me  con- 
cerning the  ornithological  character  of  these  birds,  I  have  not 
mentioned  it,  premising  that  you  are  already  perfectly  acquaint- 
ed with  their  classification  and  description.  In  a  short  memoir, 
written  in  1803,  and  printed  in  the  eighth  volume  of  the  iWerfica 
Repository,  I  ventured  an  opinion  as  to  the  genus  and  species. 
Whether  I  was  correct  is  a  technical  matter,  which  I  leave  you 
to  adjust.  I  am  well  aware  that  European  accounts  of  our  pro- 
ductions are  often  erroneous,  and  re  luire  revision  and  amend- 
ment. This  you  must  perform.  For  me  it  remains  to  repeat 
my  joy  at  the  opportunity  your  invitation  has  afforded  me  to 
contribute  somewhat  to  your  elegant  work,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  assure  you  of  my  earnest  hope  that  you  may  be  favored 
with  ample  means  to  complete  it. 

"'Samuel  L.  Mitchill.'" 

"  Duly  sensible  of  the  honor  of  the  foregoing  communication, 
and  grateful  for  the  good  wishes  with  which  it  is  concluded,  I 
shall  now,  in  further  elucidation  of  the  subject,  subjoin  a  few 
particulars,  properly  belonging  to  my  own  department. 

"  It  is  somewhat  extraordinary  that  the  European  naturalists, 
in  their  various  accounts  of  our  different  species  of  Grouse,  should 
have  said  little  or  nothing  of  the  one  now  before  us,  which  in  its 
voice,  manners,  and  peculiarity  of  plumage,  is  the  most  singular, 
and  in  its  flesh  the  most  excellent  of  all  those  of  its  tribe,  that 
inhabit  the  territory  of  the  United  States.  It  seems  to  have  es- 
caped Catesby,  during  his  residence  and  different  tours  through 
this  country,  and  it  was  not  till  more  than  twenty  years  after  his 
return  to  England,  viz.,  1743,  that  he  first  saw  some  of  these 
birds,  as  he  informs  us,  at  Cheswick,  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of 
Wilmington.  His  lordship  said  they  came  from  America  ;  but 
from  what  particular  part  could  not  tell.  Buffon  has  confounded 
it  with  the  Ruffed  Grouse,  the  Common  Partridoe  of  New 
England,  or  Pheasant  of  Pennsylvania,  ( Te^mo  Umhellus.) 
Edwards  and  Pennant  have,  however,  discovered  that  it  is  a 
different  species,  but  have  said  little  of  its  note,  of  its  flesh  or 


!:•■ 


60 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Ill  Hill' 


lormer  took  his  figure  and  the  latter  his  descriotion  •  „n,l  ♦    \u 

very  dis..     Zic,    'f'  nJ^  a""         '''""  "'  '"''"»'  '"■■ 
in  selecting  hCTjf^'"'"'''  "  ""™'">'J'  P""""'"' 

of  life    aTd  17,     '".'''=""'"■=''■'"»  «<'"«»PO"d  with  hi»  mode 
neve  vLi"  oZ  7  T""'"  '»"'"»»'"■"«  «gion»  that  he 

W,       .        *  °°  ^"""'y.'""'"  a.  on  the  bru.hy  piainsoT 

the  Indiana  and  Cer  Loli.  1™°'  """"  ""''  P™"'"  "' 

tion  of  the  late  r„v      ^°7"'"°'  ""''  "'^™'-'''"S  'o  the  informa- 

crowded  and  ,„.„sected  with  trunk,  and  arms' f  trees  that  r  Je 

themto.oi,the.,h.timhered";:;Jthttr:::^ 

in   the   Barrens.     Connected  with  this  fart  !«  «     •  '"^'® 

relafpd  fn  «.<»  K,  ^  '^  ^  circumstance 

J.  that  one  forenoon  a  Cock-Gaoos.  struck  the  stone  chimLy 

^o^rd^ix^^rtrd-rr-  r  ---  '»" 

.a.ery  places,  whl'h  they  avo^!  dllnll^lt^ri:::  'I;  ^ 
beheved  never  from  .uch  places.  Even  in  confi"  „"„,  h L 
pecuharuy  has  been  taken  notice  of.  While  I  was  in  7esZ 
of  Tennessee,  a  person,  living  within  a  few  miles  of  Nash;  ul 


UPLAND    8H00TIN0. 


ei 


r  action,  nor  de- 
from  which  the 
ion  ;  and  to  thi:; 
and  defects  of 
}f  different  and 
unely  particular 
nly  upon  those 
I  with  his  mode 
egions  that  he 
d  with  trees,  or 
ivorite  haunts, 
plains  of  New 
rushy  plains  of 
of  Pocano,  in 
i^hole  extent  of 
and  prairies  of 

0  the  informa- 
lote  plains  of 
ing  the  same 
ations  will  be 
s  and  circum- 
rect  and  labo- 

1  thick  forest, 
Js  that  require 
ngs,  to  which 
lys  observed 
lere  and  there 
circumstance 
lat  county — 
one  chimney 

dead   to  the 
marshes,  or 

m,  and  it  is 

nement  this 

in  the  State 

f  Nashville, 


t| 


hud  caught  an  old  Hen-Grouse  in  a  trap,  and  being  obliged  to  keep 
her  in  a  large  cage,  she  struck  and  abused  the  rest  of  the  poul- 
try, he  remarked  that  she  never  drank,  and  that  she  even  avoided 
that  quarter  of  the  cage  where  the  cup  containing  the  water  was 
placed.     Happening  one  day  to  let  some  water  fall  on  the  cage,  it 
trickled  down  in  drops  along  the  bars,  which  the  bird  no  sooner 
observed  than  she  eagerly  picked  them  off,  drop  by  droj),  with 
a  dexterity  that  showed  she  had  been  habituated  to  this  mode 
of  quenching  her  thirst,  and  probably  to  this  mode  only,  in  those 
dry  and  barren  tracts,   where,   except  the   drops  of  dew  and 
drops  of  rain,  water  is  very  rarely  to  be  met  with.     For  the 
space  of  a  week  he  watched  her  closely,  to  discover  whether 
she  still  refused  to  drink ;  but,  though  she  was  constantly  fed 
on  Indian  corn,  the  cup  and  water  still  remained  untouched 
and  uiitasted.     Yet,  no  sooner  did  he  again  sprinkle  water  on 
the  bars  of  the  cage,  than  she  eagerly  and  rapidly  picked  them 
off,  as  before.     The  last  and  probably  the  strongest  inducement 
to  their  preferring  these  places,  is  the  small  acorn  of  the  shrub- 
oak,  the  strawberries,  huckleberries  and  partridge-berries,  with 
which  they  abound,  and  which  constitute  the  principal  pari  of 
the  food  of  these  birds.     These  brushy  thickets  also  afford  them 
excellent  shelter,  being  almost  impenetrable  to  dogs  or  birds  of 
prey.     In  all  those  places  where  they  inhabit,  they  are,  in  the 
strictest  sense  of  the  word,  resident ;  having  their  particular  haunts 
and  places  of  rendezvous— as  described  in  the  preceding  ac- 
count—to which  they  are  strongly  attached.     Yet  they  have 
been  known  to  abandon  an  entire  tract  of  such  country,  when 
from  whatever  cause  it  might  proceed,  it  became  again  covered 
with  forest.     A  few  miles  south  of  the  town  of  York,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, commences  an  extent  of  country  fairly  of  the  charac- 
ter described,  now  chiefly  covered  with  wood,  but  still  retaining 
the  name  of  Barrens.     In  the  recollection  of  an  old  man,  born 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  this  tract  abounded  with  Grouse. 
The  timber  growing  up,  in  progress  of  years,  these  birds. totally 
disappeared,  and  for  a  long  period  of  time  he  had  seen  none  of 
them,  until,  migrating  with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  on  entering 


Ha 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


it 


the  Barrens,  he  one  morning  recognized  the  well-known  music 
<>»  h,s  old  acquaintances,  the  (Jrouse,  which,  he  assure,  tp.   ...e 
the  very  same  with  those  he  had  known  in  Pennsylvania      isut 
what  appeared  to  n.e  the  n.ost  reamrkable  circun.stance  relative 
to  tins  bird,  ,s,  that  none  of  all  those  writers  who  have  attempted 
18  history,  have  taken  the  least  notice  of  those  two  extraordi- 
nary ba-rs  o(  yellow  skin,  which  mark  the  neck  of  the  male,  and 
wh-ch  constitute  so  striking  a  peculiarity.     These  appear  to  be 
formed  1^  an  expansion  of  the  gullet,  as  well  as  of  the  exterior 
skmo  the  neck,  which,  when  the  bird  is  at  rest,  hangs  in  loose 
pendulous  wrinkled  folds  along  the  side  of  the  neck,  the  supple-' 
mental  wmgs,  at  the  same  time,  as  well  as  when  the  bird  is  lly- 
mglymg  along  the  neck,     But  when  these  bags  are  inflated 
with  a.r,  ,n   breedrng-tune,  they  are  equal  in  size,  and  very 
much  resemble  m  color  a  middle-sized,  fully-ripe  orange      By 
means  of  th.s  curious  apparatus,  which  is  very  observable  seve^ 
ral  hundred  yards  off,  he  is  enabled  to  produce' he  extraord  nary 

's  yet  difficult  to  describe  by  words.     It  consists   of  three  notes 
of  the  same  tone,  resembling   those  produced  by  the  Night- 
Hawks,  m  the.r  rapid  descent,  each  strongly  accented,  the  lattL 
being  tw,ce  as  long  as  the  others.     When  several  are  thus  en 
gaged,  the  ear  is  unable  to  distinguish  the  regularit/         iZ" 
^  pie  notes,  there  being  at  such  times  one  continued  hummnT 
which  IS  disagreeable  and  perplexing,  from  the  impossibry  of' 
ascertaining  from  what  distance  or  quarter  it  proceed:     w'hi 
u  tenng  this,  the  bird  exhibits  all  the  ostentatious  gesticulatio 
ofaTuRKEv-cocK,  erecting  and  fluttering  his  neck-wings  whee 
ng  and  passing  before  the  female,  and  close  before  hif  feTw  " 
as  in  defiance.     Now  and   then  are  heard  some  rapid,  ca  kl  nj 
no^es,  not  unlike  that  of  a  person  tickled  to  excessive  augh    .^ 
ad,  ,„  short   one  can  scarcely  listen  to  them  without  Id L' 
dsposed  to  laugh  from  sympathy.    These  are  uttered  by  the 
he  males  while  engaged  in  fight,  on  which  occasion  theT  1  a' 
up  against  each  other,  exactly  in  the  manner  of  T.hki  s  seem 
mglywith  more  malice  than  effect.     This  humming  ^olunu^- 


1^ 
A 


UPLAND    SnOOTINO. 


63 


ell-known  music 
I  assure^  tp''^  ..le 
isylvania.  Hut, 
instance  relative 

have  atteini)te(l 

two  extraordi- 
of  the  male,  and 
}se  appear  to  be 

of  the  exterior 
1  hangs  in  loose, 
!ck,  the  supple- 

the  bird  is  lly- 
igs  are  inflated 
size,  and  very 
e  orange.     By 
Jservable  seve- 
>  extraordinary 
ily  be  imitated, 
of  three  notes 
y  the  NiGHT- 
nted,  the  latter 
I  are  thus  en- 
"•ity  of  those 
ied  humming, 
ipossibility  of 
eeds.     While 
gesticulations 
wings,  wheel- 
e  his  fellows, 
pid,  cackling 
ive  laughter  ; 
thout  feeling 
tered  by  the 
on  they  leap 
RKiEs,  seem- 
ng  continues 


from  a  little  before  day-break  to  eight  or  nine  o'clock  in  the 
mornin;^,  when  the  parties  separate  to  seek  for  food. 

"  Fresh-ploughed   fields  in  the  vicinity  of  their  resorts  are 
sure  to  be  visited  by  these  birds,  every  morning,  and  frequently 
also  in  the  evening.     On  one  of  these  I  counted,  at  one  time, 
seventeen  males,  most  of   whom  were  in  the  attitude  repre- 
sented, making  such  a  continued  sound  as,   I  am  persuaded, 
might  have  been  heard  more  than  a  mile  off.     The  people  of 
the  Barrens  informed  me  that  when  the  weather  becomes  se- 
vere, with  snow,  they  approach  the  barn  and  farm-house,  and 
are  sometimes  seen  sitting  on  the  fields  in  the  Indian  corn,  seem- 
ing almost  domesticated.  At  such  times  great  numbers  are  taken 
in  traps.     No  pains,  however,  on  regular  plans,  have  ever  been 
persisted  in,  as  far  as   I  was  informed,  to  domesticate  these 
delicious  birds.     A  Mr.  Reid,  who  lives  between  the  Pilot- 
Knobs  and  Bairdstown,  told  me  that,  a  few  years  ago,  one  of  his 
sons  found  a  Grouse's  nest,  with  fifteen  eggs,  which  he  brought 
home  and  immediately  placed  beneath  a  hen  then  sitting,  tak- 
ing away  her  own.     The   nest  of   the   Grouse   was    on  the 
ground,  under  a  tussock  of  long  grass,  formed  with  very  little 
art  and  few  materials.     The  eggs  were  brownish  white,  and 
about  the  size  of  a  pullet's.     In  three  or  four  days,  the  whole 
were  hatched.     Instead  of  following  the  Hen,  they  compelled 
her  to  move  after  them,  distracting  her  with  the  extent  and  di- 
versity of  their  wanderings  ;  and  it  was  a  day  or  two  before  they 
seemed  to  understand  her  language,  or  consent  to  be  guided  by 
her.     They  were  let  out  to  the  fields,  where  they   paid  little 
regard  to  their  nurse,  and,  in  a  few  days,  only  three  of  them  re- 
mained.    These  became  exceedingly  tame  and  familiar,  were 
most  expert  fly-catchers,  but  soon  after  they  also  disappeared. 

"  On  dissecting  these  birds,  the  gizzard  was  found  extremely 
muscular,  having  almost  the  hardness  of  a  stone ;  the  heart 
remarkably  large  ;  the  crop  was  filled  with  briar-knots,  con- 
taining the  larvae  of  some  insect,  quantities  of  a  species  of 
green  lichen,  small,  hard  seeds,  and  some  grains  of  Indian  Corn." 
'  —  Wilson^s  Am.  Ornith. 


64 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS, 


Next  to  this  fine  bird,  both  in  his  game  qualities  and   the 
excellence  of  his  flesh,  I  note,  unhesitatingly, 


THE   RUFFED   GROUSE. 

Tetrao  Umbellus.  Linn:   Wilson:  Audubon.  La  Gelinotte  Hup- 
pel  de  Pennsyhanie.     Bnssot.—The  Pheasant,  or  Partridge. 

"  Male,  18.24. 

"Common  from  Maryland  to  Labrador,  and,  in  the  interior, 
from  the  mountainous  districts  to  Canada  and  the  Jashatchewan' 
Columbian  River.     Resident.  ' 

"  Adult  Male. 

"  Bill  short,  robust,  slightly  arched,  rather  obtuse  ;  the  base 
covered  by  feathers  ;  upper  mandible,  with  the  dorsal  outline, 
straight  m  the  feathered  part,  convex  toward  the  end,  the  edges' 
overlapping,  the  tip  declinate;  under  mandible  somewhat  bulg- 
ing  toward  the  tip  ;  the  sides  convex.  Nostrils  concealed  among 
the  feathers.  Head  and  neck  small.  Body  bulky.  Feet  of  or- 
dmary  length.  Shank  feathered,  excepting  at  the  lower  part  in 
front,  where  it  is  scutellate,  spurless  ;  toes  scutellate  above,  pec 
tmate  on  the  sides  ;  claws  arched,  depressed,  obtuse. 

''  Plumage  compact,  glossy.  Feathers  of  head  narrow,  and 
elongated  into  a  curved  tuft.  A  large  space  on  the  neck  desti- 
tute  of  feathers,  but  covered  by  an  erectile  ruff  of  elongated  fea- 
thers,  of  which  the  upper  are  silky,  shining,  and  curved  forward  at 
the  end,  which  is  very  broad  and  rounded.  Wings  short,  broad 
curved,  and  much  rounded.  Tail  long,  ample,  rounded,  of 
eighteen  feathers. 

"  Bill  brown  color,  brownish-black  toward  the  tip.  Iris  hazel 
Feet  yellowish-gray.     Upper  part  of  the  head  and  wing  part 
of  the  neck  bright  yellowish-red.     Back  rich  chesnut,  marked 
with  oblong  white  spots,  margined  with  black. 

"  Tail  reddish-yellow,  barred  and  minutely  mottled  with  black 
and  terminated  by  a  broad  band  of  the  latter  color,  between  two 
narrow  bands  of  bluish-white,  of  which  the  one  is  terminal      A 


4 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


lalities  and   the 


65 


Gelinottc  Hup- 
,  or  Partridge. 

in  the  interior, 
I  Jashatchewan, 


tuse ;  the  base 
dorsal  outline, 
end,  the  edges 
)mewhat  bulg- 
ncealed  among 
r.  Feet  of  or- 
B  lower  part  in 
ite  above,  pec- 
use. 

i  narrow,  and 
;he  neck  desti- 
elongated  fea- 
ved  forward  at 
s  short,  broad, 
rounded,  of 

iip.  Iris  hazel, 
md  wing  part 
3dnut,  marked 

ed  with  black, 
,  between  two 
terminal.     A 


yellowish  band  from  the  upper  mandible  to  the  eye,  beyond 
Avliich  it  is  prolonged.  Throat  and  lower  part  of  the  neck  light 
brownish-yellow.  Lower  ruff  feathers  of  the  same  color,  barred 
with  reddish-brown  ;  the  upper  black,  with  blue  reflections.  A 
tuft  of  light  chesnut  feathers  under  the  wings.  The  rest  of  the 
under  parts  yellowish-white,  with  broad,  transverse  spots  of 
brownish-red  ;  the  abdomen  yellowish-red ;  and  the  under  tail 
coverts  mottled  with  brown. 

"  Length,  18  inches  ;  extent  of  wings,  2  feet ;  bill,  along  the 
ridge,  ?  ;  along  the  gap,  IJj  ;  shank,  li^ ;  middle  toe,  Ij. 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  plumage  of  the  female  is  less  developed,  and  inferior  in 
beauty.  The  feathers  of  the  head  and  ruff  are  less  elongated  ; 
the  latter  of  a  dull  black.  The  tints  of  the  pluma<,  generally 
are  lighter  than  in  the  male. 

"  The  eggs  usually  measure  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  by 
an  inch  and  two-twelfths  in  breadth,  and  are  of  an  uniform  dull 
yellowish  tint." — Audubon^s  Birds  of  America. 

"  This  is  the  Partridge  of  the  Eastern  States,  and  the  Phea- 
sant of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Southern  Districts.    It  is  represent- 
ed as  it  was  faithfully  copi   1  from  a  perfect  and  very  beautiful 
specimen.     This    elegant    species   is   well    known    in    almost 
every  quarter  of  the  United  States,  and  appears  to  inhabit 
a  very  extensive  range  of  country.     It  is  common  at  Moose 
Fort,   on    Hudson's  Bay,   in   lat.    51°,   is    frequent    in    the 
upper   parts   of    Georgia,    very   abundant  in    Kentucky,   and 
the    Indiana  Territory,  and  was    found   by  Capts.  Lewis  and 
Clark   in   crossing  the  great   range   of  mountains    that  divide 
the   waters  of  the  Columbia   and    Missouri  more   than   three 
tliousand  miles,  by  the  measurement,  from   the  mouth  of  the 
latter.     Its  favorite  places  of  resort  are  high  mountains,  cov- 
ered with  the  balsam,  pine,  hemlock,  and   other   evergreens 
Unlike  the  Pinnated  Grouse,  it  always  prefers  the  woods,  is 
seldom  or  never  found  in  open  plains,  but  loves  the  pine-shel- 
tered declivities  of  mountains  near  streams  of  water. 
VOL.  I.  5 


66 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Ill  11 


*  This  great  difference  of  disposition  in  two  species  whose  food 
seems  to  be  nearly  the  same,  is  very  extraordinary.  In  those 
open  plains  called  the  Barrens,  in  Kentucky,  the  Pinnated 
Grouse  was  seen  in  great  numbers,  but  none  of  the  Ruffed. 
While  in  the  high  groves  with  which  this  singular  tract  of  coun- 
try is  interspersed,  the  latter,  or  Pheasant,  was  frequently  met 
with,  but  not  a  single  individual  of  the  former.  The  native  haunts 
of  the  Pheasant,  being  a  cold,  high,  mountainous,  and  woody 
country,  it  is  natural  to  expect  that  as  we  descend  from  thence 
to  the  soa  shores,  and  the  low,  flat,  and  warm  climate  of  the 
Southern  States,  these  birds  should  become  more  .rare,  and 
such  IS  indeed  the  case.  In  the  low  parts  of  Carolina,  and  Geor- 
gia, and  Florida,  they  are  very  seldom  observed,  but  as  we 
advance  inland  to  the  mountains,  they  again  make  their  appear- 
ance. In  the  low  parts  of  New  Jersey  we  indeed  occasionally 
meet  with  them,  but  this  is  owing  to  the  more  northerly  situa- 
tion of  the  country,  for  even  here  they  are  far  less  numerous 
than  among  the  mountains.  Dr.  Burton,  and  several  other 
English  writers,  have  spoken  of  a  Long-tailed  Grouse,  said  to 
inhabit  the  back  parts  of  Virginia,  which  can  be  no  other  than 
the  present  species  ;  there  being,  as  far  as  I  am  acquainted,  only 
these  two,*  the  Ruffed  and  Pinnated  Grouse,  found  natives  within 
the  United  States.  The  manners  of  the  Pheasant  are  solitary, 
they  are  seldom  found  in  coveys  of  more  than  four  or  five  togetlier, 
and  more  usually  in  pairs,  or  singly.  They  leave  their  seques- 
tered haunts  in  the  woods  early  in  the  morning,  and  seek  the 
path  or  road  to  pick  up  gravel,  and  glean  among  the  droppings 
of  the  horses.  In  travelling  among  the  mountains  that  bound 
the  Susquehanna,  I  was  always  able  to  furnish  myself  with  an 
abundant  supply  of  these  birds  without  leaving  the  path.  If  the 
weather  be  foggy  or  lowering,  they  are  sure  to  be  seen  in  such 
situations.  They  generally  move  along  with  great  stateliness, 
the  broad,  fan-like  tail  spread  out. 

"The  drumming,  as  it  is  usually  called,  of  the  Pheasant 
is  another  singularity  of  this  species.     This  is  performed  by  the 

*  This  is,  of  course,  au  error  of  Wilson's. 


■I 
SI 


1 
4 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


67 


scies  whose  food 
nary.  In  those 
',  the  Pinnated 
)f  the  Ruffed. 
ir  tract  of  coun- 

frequently  met 
be  native  haunts 
)us,  and  woody 
;nd  from  thence 

climate  of  the 
more  .rare,  and 
)lina,  and  Geor- 
ed,  but  as  we 
ce  their  appear- 
;ed  occasionally 
northerly  situa- 

less  numerous 
I  several  other 
Grouse,  said  to 
e  no  other  than 
cquainted,  only 
d  natives  within 
NT  are  solitary, 
or  fivetogetl.er, 
i^e  their  seques- 
g,  and  seek  the 
g  the  droppings 
ains  that  bound 
myself  with  an 
le  path.  If  the 
be  seen  in  such 
•eat  stateliness, 

the  Pheasant, 
rformed  by  the 


malg  alone.     In  walking  through  the  solitary  woods  frequented 
by  these   birds,  a  stranger  is  surprised  by  suddenly  hearing  a 
kind  of  thumping,  very  similar  to  that  produced  by  striking  two 
full-blown  ox-bladders  together,  but  much  louder ;  the  strokes 
at  first  are  slow  and  distinct,  but  gradually  increase  in  rapidity, 
till  they  run  into  each  other  :  resembling  the  rumbling  sound  of 
very  distant  thunder  dying  away  gradually  on  the  ear.     After  a 
few  minutes'  pause,'this  is  again  repeated,  and  in  a  calm  day 
may  be  heard  nearly  a  mile  off.     This  drumming  is  most  com- 
mon in  spring,  and  is  the  call  of  the  cock  to  a  favorite  female. 
It  is  produced  in  the  following  manner  :  The  bird,  standing  on 
an  old  prostrate  log,  generally  in  a  retired  and  sheltered  situa- 
tion, lowers  his  wings,  erects  his  expanded  tail,  contracts  his 
throat,  elevates    the   two   tufts  of  feathers  on  the  neck,  and 
inflates  his  whole  body  something  in  the  manner  of  a  Turkey- 
cock,  strutting  and  wheelmg  about  in  great  stateliness.     After  a 
few  manoeuvres  of  this  kind  he  begins  to  strike  with  his  stiffened 
wings  in  short  and  quick  strokes,  which  become  more  and  more 
rapid  until  they  run  into  each  other,  as  has  been  already  describ- 
ed.    This  is  most  common  in  the  morning  and  evening,  though  I 
have  heard  them  drumming  at  all  hours  of  the  day.     By  means 
of  this,  the  gunner  is  led  to  his  retreat,  though  to  those  unac- 
quainted with  the  sound  there  is  great  deception  in  the  supposed 
distance,  it  generally  appearing  to  be  much  nearer  than  it  really 
is.     The  Pheasant*  begins  to  pair  in  April,  and  builds  its  nest 
early  in  May.     This  is  placed  on  the  ground  at  the  root  of  a 
bush,  old  log,  or  other  sheltered  or  solitary  situation,  well-sur- 
rounded with  withered  leaves.     Unlike  that  of  the  Quail,  it  is 
open  above,  and  is  usually  composed  of  dry  leaves  and  grass. 
The  eggs  are  from  nine  to  fifteen  in  number,  of  brownish-white, 
without  any  spots,  and  nearly  as  large  as  those  of  a  Pullet.    The 
young  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  are  directed  by  the 
cluck  of  the  mother,  very  much  in  the  manner  of  the  common 
Hen.     On  being  surprised,  she  exhibits  all  the  distress  and  affec- 
tionate mancEuvres  of  the  Quail,  and  most  other  birds,  to  lead  you 
»  All  error !     The  Ruffed  Grouse  is  polygamou.,,  and  does  not  pair  at  all. 


68 


PRANK    FOBESTER^S    FIELD    SPORTS. 


away  from  the   spot.     I  once  started  a  Hen  Pheasant  with  a 
single  young  one,  seemingly  only  a  few  days  old ;  there  miirht 
have  been  more,  but  1  observed  only  this  one.     Tie  mother 
fluttered  before  me  for  a  moment,  but  suddenly  darted  towards 
the  young  one,  seized  it  in  her  bill,  and  flew  off"  along  the  sur- 
face through  the  woods  with  great  steadiness  and  rapidity,  till 
»he  was  beyond  my  sight,  leaving  me  in  great  surprise  at  the 
incident.     I  made  a  very  close  and  active  search  around  the  spot 
for  the  rest,  but  without  success.     Here  was  a  striking  instance 
of  something  more  than  what  is  termed  blind  instinct,  in  this 
remarkable  deviation  from  her   usual  manoeuvres  when  she  has 
a  numerous  brood.     It  would  have  been  impossible  for  me  to 
nave  injured  the  affectionate  mother  who  had  exhibited  such  an 
example  of  presence  of  mind,  reason,  and  sound  judgment  as 
must  have  convinced  the  most  bigoted  advocate  of  mere  instinct. 
To  cxrry  off"  a  whole  brood  in  this  manner  at  once,  would  have 
been  impossible,  and  to  attempt  to  save  one  at  the  expense  of  the 
the  rest,  would  be  unnatural.     She,  therefore,  usually  takes  the 
only  possible  mode  of  saving  them  in  that  case,  by  decoying  the 
person  in  pursuit  of  herself,  by  such  a  natural  imitation  of  lameness 
as  to  impose  on  most  people.     But  here,  in  the  case  of  a  single 
solitary  young  one,  she  instantly  altered  her  plan,  and  adopted 
the  most  simple  and  effectual  means  for  its  preservation.     The 
Pheasant  usually  springs  within  a  few  yards,  with  a  loud  whir- 
ring noise,  and  flies  with  great  vigor  through  the  woods,  beyond 
reach  of  view,  before  it  alights.     With  a  good  dog,  however, 
they  are  easily  found,  and   at  some  times  exhibit  a  singular 
decree  of  infatuation,  by  looking  down  from  the  branches  where 
they  sit,  on  the  dog  below,  who,  the  more  noise  he  keeps  up 
seems  the  more  to  confuse  and  stupify  them,  so  that  they  may 
be  shot  down  one  by  one  till  the  whole  are  killed,  without 
attempting  to  fly  off".     In  such  cases,  those  on  the  lower  limb,^ 
must  be  taken  first ;  for  should  the  upper  be  first  killed,  in  their 
fall  they  alarm  those  below,  who  immediately  fly  off:     In  deep 
snows  they  are  usually  taken  in  traps,  commonly  dead  traps 
supported  by  a  figure  4  trigger.     At  this  season,  when  suddenly 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


69 


easant  with  a 
;  there  might 

Tl"e  mother 
irted  towards 
ilong  the  sur- 

rapidity,  till 
iirprise  at  the 
ound  the  spot 
king  instance 
stinct,  in  this 
when  she  has 
ble  for  me  to 
)ited  such  an 
judgment  as 
nere  instinct. 
,  would  have 
{pense  of  the 
lly  takes  the 
iecoying  the 
1  of  lameness 
J  of  a  single, 
and  adopted 
ation.     The 
»  loud  whir- 
ods,  beyond 
g,  however, 

a  singular 
iches  where 
e  keeps  up. 
It  they  may 
ed,  without 
lower  limb* 
led,  in  their 
r.  In  deep 
dead  traps, 
>n  sudcleuly 


alarmed,  they  frequently  dive  into  the  snow,  particularly  when 
it  has  newly  fallen,  and  coming  out  at  a  considerable  distance, 
again  take  wing.     They  are  pretty  hard  to  kill,  and  will  often 
carry  off  a  large  load  to  the  distance  of  two  hundred  yards,  and 
drop  down  dead.     Sometimes  in  the  depth  of  winter  they  ap- 
proach the  farm-house,  and  lurk  near  the  barn  or  aboat  the 
garden.     They  have,  also,  been  often  taken  young,  and  tamed, 
so  as  to  associate  with  the  fowls  ;  and  their  eggs  have  frequently 
been  hatched  under  the  common  Hen,  but  these  rarely  survive 
until  full  grown.     They  are  exceedingly  fond  of  the  seeds  of 
grapes,  occasionally  eat  ants,  chesnuts,  blackberries,  and  vari- 
ous vegetables.     Formerly  they  were  numerous  in  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  but  as  the  woods  were  cleared,  and 
population  increased,  they  retreated  to  the  interior.     At  present 
there  are  very  few  to  be  found  within  several  miles  of  the  city, 
and  those  only  singly  in  the  most  solitary  and  retired  woody 
recesses.     The  Pheasant  is  in  best  order  for  the  table  in  Sep- 
tember and  October.     At  this  season  they  feed  chiefly  on  wor- 
tleberries,  and  the  little  aromatic  partridgeberries,  the  last  of 
which  give  the  flesh  a  peculiar  delicate  flavor.  With  the  former, 
our  mountains  are  literally  covered  from  August  to  November,  and 
these  constitute  at  that  season,  the  greater  part  of  their  food. 
During  the  deep  snows  of  winter  they  have  recourse  to  the  buds 
of  alder,  and  the  tender  buds  of  laurel,    I  have  frequently  found 
their  crops  distended  with  a  large,  handful  of  these  latter  alone, 
and  it  has  been  confidently  asserted  that  after  being  fed  for  some 
time  on  the  laurel  buds,  the  flesh  becomes  highly  dangerous  to 
eat  of,  partaking  of  the  poisonous  qualities  of  the  plant.     The 
same  has  been  asserted  of  the  flesh  of  the  deer,  when,  in  severe 
weather  and  deep  snows  they  subsist  on  the  leaves  and  bark  of 
the  laurel.     Though  I  have  myself  ate  freely  of  the  flesh  of  the 
Pheasant,  after  emptyi'.g  it  of  large  quantities  of  laurel  buds, 
without  experiencing  any  bad  consequences  ;  yet  from  the  re- 
spectability of  those,  some  of  them  eminent  physicians,  who 
have  particularized  cases  in  which  it  has  proved  deleterious  and 
even  fatal,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  in  certain  cases,  wl-.eie  this 


70 


FRANK    FORESTEk's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


u 


ii 


lillil 


kind  of  food  has  been  long  continued,  and  the  birds  allowed  to 
remain  undrawn  for  several  days,  until  the  contents  of  the  crop 
and  stomach  have  had  time  to  diffuse  themselves  through  the 
flesh,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  it  may  be  unwholesome,  and  even 
dangerous.  Great  numbers  of  these  birds  are  brought  to  our 
markets  at  all  times  during  fall  and  winter,  some  of  which  are 
brought  from  a  distance  of  more  than  a  hundred  miles,  and  have 
been  probably  dead  a  week  or  two,  unpicked  and  undrawn, 
before  they  are  purchased  for  the  table. 

"  Regulations  prohibiting  them  from  being  brought  to  market, 
unless  picked  and  drawn,  would  very  probably  be  a  sufficient 
security  against  all  danger.  At  these  inclement  seasons,  how- 
ever, they  are  lean  and  dry,  and,  indeed,  at  all  times,  their  flesh 
is  far  inferior  to  that  of  the  Pinnated  Grouse.  They  are  usually 
sold  in  Philadelphia  market  at  from  three-quarters  of  a  dollar 
to  a  dollar  and  k  quarter  a  pair,— sometimes  higher. "—Wilson's 
Am.  Ornith. 

The  last  of  this  species  which  it  is  worth  our  while  to  notice 
as  a  sporting  bird,  is  the  Canada  Grouse,  and  even  it,  although 
Mr.  Audubon  speaks  of  it  as  abundant  in  parts  of  Maine,  and 
although  it  unquestionably  exists  in  the  north-eastern  angle  of 
New  York,  is  so  rarely  met,  and  so  shy,  as  to  be  known  to  very 
few  of  our  sportsmen. 

The  Willow  Grouse,  or  Willow  Ptarmigan,  perhaps  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  the  American  species,  and  perhaps  to  be 
met  with  in  the  extreme  north  of  Maine,  is  too  uncommon  to  be 
classed  as  game.  I  fear,  indeed,  that  few  of  my  readers  will 
ever  have  the  good  fortune  to  kill  the  beautiful  little  Grouse  of 
which  we  are  now  speaking.  I  doubt  whether  it  would  ever  lie 
to  dogs.     It  is  a  soUtary  forest  bird. 


irds  allowed  to 
its  of  the  crop 
IS  through  the 
ome,  ami  even 
rought  to  our 
>  of  which  are 
liles,  and  have 
and  undraw  n, 

;ht  to  market, 
36  a  sufficient 
seasons,  how^- 
es,  their  flesh 
ey  are  usually 
rs  of  a  dollar 
-."—Wilson's 


hile  to  notice 
1  it,  although 
Maine,  and 
ern  angle  of 
nown  to  very 

perhaps  the 
jrhaps  to  be 
ommon  to  be 
readers  will 
e  Grouse  of 
ould  ever  lie 


UPLAND    SHOOTINO  71 

THE   CANADA   GROUSE. 

Telrao    Canadensis.     Linn :    Bonaparte :    Audubon.     Spotted 
Grouse  ;  Franklin's  Grouse  ;  Spruce  Partridge. 

"  Male,  15J.21J.     Female,  151.21. 

*'  Plentiful  from  the  Northern  parts  of  New  York  to  Labra- 
dor, as  well  as  from  Canada  to  the  Arctic  Sea,  Columbia  River. 
Partially  migratory  in  winter. 

"  Adult  Male. 

"  Bill  short,  robust,  slightly  arched,  rather  obtuse  ;  the  base 
covered  by  feathers ;  upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  outline 
convex  toward  the  end — the  edges  sharp  and  overhanging — the 
tip  declinate ;  lower  mandible  slightly  convex  in  its  dorsal  out- 
line ;  the  back  broad  and  rounded  ;  the  sides  sloping  outward  ; 
the  tip  rather  rounded.  Nostrils  basal,  lateral,  concealed  by  the 
short  feathers.  Head  small ;  neck  of  ordinary  length  ;  body 
full.  Feet  short,  rather  small ;  tarsus  short,  roundish,  feathered. 
Toes  scutellate  above,  broadly  margined  and  pectinate  ;  the  an- 
terior ones  connected  by  a  web  at  the  base  ;  the  hind  toe  very 
small,  the  two  lateral  about  equal,  the  middle  one  much  longer  ; 
claws  short,  arched,  compressed,  rather  obtuse. 

"  Plumage  compact,  slightly  glossed.  Feathers  of  the  head 
very  short.  Wings  short,  broad,  much  rounded  and  curved,  the 
third  quill  longest,  the  fourth  next,  the  second  and  fifth  nearly 
equal,  the  first  very  short.  Tail  ample,  of  ordinary  length, 
rounded,  of  sixteen  broad  rotundate  truncate*  feathers,  having  a 
minute  mucio. 

"  Bill  and  claws  brownish  black.  Iris|  hazle.  Fringed  mem- 
brane over  the  eyes,  vermillion.  Toes  purplish  gray.  Upper 
plumage  and  flanks  brownish  black,  transversely  barred  with 
brownish  gray  ;  the  tip  of  each  feather  with  two  bars  of  the  lat- 
ter color ;  on  the  hind  parts  the  bars  are  larger,  and  the  pale 

*  Truncate — Cut  off  short  and  abruptly. 
t  /m— The  circle  about  the  pupil  of  the  eye 


72 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Zl """'"  lu^     ""''^  ^'°^"-     ^"'"«  ^"d  ^-'S-r  coverts,  black- 
ish  br  the  outer  edges  of  the  primaries  pale  brownish  gray 

and  those  of  the  secondaries  minutely  mottled  with  the  same 
Tad  coverts  brownish  black,  minutely  mottled  and  tipped  with 
gray.sh  white;  tail  feathers  darker,  and  tipped  with  dull  brown- 
ish  red.  Lower  parts  black,  the  feathers  on  the  throat  havin.r 
a  white  spot  near  the  end  ;  those  of  the  lower  and  lateral  parti 

snn        T^  ""T""^  '  "^  '^'  ^^^^*'  ""'^  ^  ^'-<  subterminal 
spot,  and  the  under  tad  coverts  largely  tipped  with  white.    Inner 

ZuhXr^'"''  '"""'^'^  ^^^^^'"^^  ''''  ^^•"-'-  ^'PP^^ 

J[^y^:  151  inches;  extent  of  wings,,21?;  bill,  along  'the 
back,  J^;  along  the  edge,  1^  ;  tai^us,  Ij  ;  weight,  17oz. 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female  is  not  much  smaller.     The  superciliary  mem- 

^Zv"  fT  '  '"*  ''  *'^  ""^  '''''''    T^«  "PP-^rts  are 

nearly  of  the  same  tmts,  but  more  broadly  barred;  the  head, 
Bides  of  the  neck  fore  neck,  and  anterior  parts  of 'the  breast 
yellowish  gray  barred  with  brownish  black ;  the  lower  parts 
grayish  bkck,  barred  with  reddish  white.  The  tail  is  minutely 
tipped  and  mottled  with  brownish  red.  The  younger  females 
have  more  of  the  yellowish  red  tints  than  the  oid  onL  I„  other 
respects,  the  coloring  is  nearly  similar. 

AM^^^'^^''""^"'  """'°''"'»g'.21  ;  weight,  Ifioz."_ 

Inasmuch  as  this  rare  and  beautiful  little  species  of  Grouse  is 
almost  ent,rdy  unknown   to  our  sportsmen,  as  I  have  nev 
found  any  who  have  killed  it,  and  very  few  who  are  awarHf 
Its  existence;  and  as, with  a  single  exception,  I  have  never  b^ 

."hTsIat"'  f'M°"^'  •  ""''  ""  ^''"'"  °--'°-  ««^  fo"  '    -> 
the  State  of  Mame,  on  the  waters  of  the  Penobscot,  1  canno" 

.peak  as  .0  ,ts  habits  or  haunts  with  any  certainty,  {.oL  my  In 

personal  expenence,  or  from  the  report  of  sportsmen.     I  amTn" 

ehned    „  he , eve,  however,  that  it  is  not  a  bird  which  wi^  "e 

found  .0  y,eld  much  sport,  as  I  doubt  its  lying  to  setters  „ 


m 


P8. 

er  coverts,  black- 
5  brownish  gray, 
1  with  the  same, 
and  tipped  with 
with  dull  brown- 
he  throat  havinor 
md  lateral  parts 
oad,  subterminal 
ith  white.  Inner 
ixillaries  tipped 

;  bill,  along  'the 
it,  17oz. 

)erciliary  mem- 
upper  parts  are 
red ;  the  head, 
I  of  the  breast, 
he  lower  parts, 
ail  is  minutely 
>unger  females 
ones.  In  other 

ight,  15oz."-- 

3  of  Grouse  is 
I  have  never 
'  are  aware  of 
ive  never  but 
tried  for  it  in 
Jcot,  1  cannot 
from  my  own 
en.  I  am  in- 
v'hich  will  be 
to  setters  or 


N 


■UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


7A 


pointers,  or  being  met  with  in  sufficient  numbers  to  render  the 
pursuit  of  it  pleasurable  or  exciting. 

The  single  specimen  which  I  killed,  rose  suddenly  from  the 
ground,  which  was  covered  with  snow  to  the  depth  of  a  foot  br 
more,  in  a  little  dell  or  basin,  full  of  tall  larch  and  spruce-firs, 
just  as  I  came  over  the  brow  of  the  hill ;  and  I  was  fortunate 
enough  t  kill  it  at  h  ng;  range,  by  a  snap  shot.  It  was  a  fine 
cock  bird,  agreeing  in  all  respects  arrurately  with  the  above  de- 
scription, from  the  pages  of  the  greatest  living  naturalist. 

Feeling  that  something  more  than  this  bare  notice  is  due  to 
this  beautiful  bird,  n  with  some  faint  hope  that,  by  calling  the 
attention  of  sportsmen  to  the  undoubted  fact  of  its  existence 
within  our  sporting  limits,  I  may  add  one  to  our  list  of  game,  I 
shall  proceed  to  quote  from  the  author  already  noticed,  whose 
ornithological  distinctions  and  descriptions  I  shall  adopt  through- 
out this  work,  the  following  graphic  account  of  his  experience 
as  relates  to  this  Grouse. 

I  say,  that  I  entertain  but  a  faint  hope,  because  among  many 
intelligent  and  observing  friends,  keen  sportsmen  and  good  shots, 
both  in  Lower  Canada  and  New  Brunswick,  I  have  never  heard 
this  Grouse  named  as  a  bird  of  game.  In  fact,  believe  that  no 
bird  which  haunts  the  depths  of  the  North  American  wilderness 
can,  under  any  circumstances,  afford  much  sport  to  the  legiti- 
mate pursuer,  though  they  may  be  treed  with  cur-dogs,  and 
shot  sitting,  in  sufficient  numbers  to  supply  markets,  and  to 
satisfy  the  sporting  aspirations  of  the  prowling,  backwoods' 
gunner. 

"  No  sooner  had  I  entered  the  State  of  Maine,  than  I  consi- 
dered the  Canada  Grouse  as  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  my  ■ 
enquiry.  Every  person  to  whom  I  spoke  about  it,  assured  me 
that  it  was  rather  ab  idant  during  the  whole  year,  and  conse- 
quently that  it  bred  in  the  country.  All  this  I  fortunately 
proved  to  be  quite  true  ;  but  no  one  told  me  of  the  difficulties  I 
should  have  to  encounter  in  watching  its  habits  ;  and  although  I 
ultimately  succeeded  in  this,  the  task  was  perhaps  as  severe  as 
any  which  I  ever  undertook. 


i 


ir 


Hi 


1 


m 


\n 


Pi' 


u 


FKANK    FORBsTKb's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


"  In  August,  1832,  I  reached  the  dehVhtful  Httl«  villn  r 
Denn.vi,.e,  about  eighteen  n.l,.  distant  ^!:e1Z^Z1 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  become  an  inmate  of  the  kind  and  mo  t 

neatt;      "''^''"'^^  ^'"^«'"' -^«  ^-  resided  therel 
nearly  half  u  century,  and  who  is  blessed  with  a  f^milv  T 

e'lual  to  any  with  whom  I  am  acquainted  7or  talel  '       ""' 
ance  and  industrv      V.^u    e  *i.        .     ,     '         t'^'ents,  persever- 

L.„c„,„  offered   .„  lead  .e  .„  .ho/e  re.Ld ""lUe  eZ 
on  Ihe  27th  of  August,  my  two  sons,  accompanvinc  us    Tl,; 

....:/::;or;L  *:.,:  x :  ott  d*'  ^^-'^  -^ 

Labrador,  where  h«  „...  7'  ^  ''^^P  """^^^s  of 

undenakCrel  ^rZpTild"'  wlT"'  ^°''"  ''  °" 
.o  follow  our  guide  [he  wh3e      'i  o^e  'falirTre  "'"""' 

.00  much  f:;  dT; •  fsi'h  o'fTh " ""  T7- '''  -- 

for  home  *''"'  »'"'  ">erefore  made 

search,  in  comnanv  wiih  5  ,.  ?  "'"y"  "'"'"'»'  '"y 

guide  me  toX,"   bTe  r  '  ".'"' ''"'  """'^  "»  l^"  -"« 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


7ft 


as  tlie  most  tangled  swamps  of  Labrador.     The  whole  ground 
is  covered  by  the  most  beautiful  carpeting  of  verdant  moss,  over 
which  the  light-footed  Grouse  walk  with  ease,  but  among  which 
we  sunk  at  every  step  or  two  up  to  the  waist,  our  legs  stuck  in 
the  mire,  and  our  bodies  squeezed  beneath  the  dead  trunks  and 
branches  of  the  trees;  the  minute  leaves  of  which  insinuated 
themselves  between  my  clothes,  and  nearly  blinded  me.     We 
saved  our  guns  from  injury,  however,  and  seeing  some  of  the 
Spruce  Partridges  before  they  perceived  us,  we  procured  seve- 
ral specimens.     They  were  in  beautiful  plumage,  but  all  male 
birds.     It  is  in  such  places  that  these  birds  usually  reside,  and  it 
k  very  seldom  that  they  are  seen  in  the  open  grounds,  beyond 
the  borders  of  their  almost  impenetrable  retreats.     On  returning 
to  my  family,  I  found  that  another  hunter  had  brought  two  fme 
females,  but  had  foolishly  neglected  to  bring  the  young  ones, 
which  he  had  caught  and  given  to  his  children,  who,  to  my  great 
mortification,  had  already  cooked  them  when  my  messenger  ar- 
rived at  his  house. 

"The   Spruce   Partridge,  or  Canada  Grouse,  breeds  in  the 
States  of  Maine  and  Massachusetts,  about  the  middle  of  May, 
nearly  a  month  earlier  than  at  Labrador.     The  males  pay  their 
addresses  to  the  females,  by  strutting  before  them  on  the  ground 
or  moss,  in  the  manner  of  the  Turkey-cock,  frequently  rising  se- 
veral yards  in  the  air,  in  a  spiral  manner,  when  they  beat  their 
wings  violently  against  their  body,  thereby  producing  a  drum- 
ming noise,  clearer  than  that  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse,  and  which 
can  be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance.     The  female  places  her 
nest  beneath  the  low  horizontal  branches  of  fir-trees,    taking 
'care  to  conceal  it  well.     It  consists  of  a  bed  of  twigs,  dry  leaves 
and  mosses,  on  which  she  deposits  from  eight  to  fourteen  eggs, 
of  a  deep  fawn  color,  irregularly  splashed  with  different  tints  of 
brown.    They  raise  only  one  brood  in  the  season,  and  the  young 
follow  the  mother  as   soon   as  they  are  hatched.     The  males 
leave  the  females  whenever  incubation  has  commenced,  and  do 
not  join  them  again  until  late  in  autumn  ;  indeed,  they  remove 


()1 


' 


l'>U 


'.■- 


iiii 
.'fll 


•-I 


il 


irl  i 


76 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


to  different  woods,  when  they  are  more  shy  and  wary  than  dur- 
ing the  love  season  or  the  winter. 

"  This  species  walks  much  in  the  manner  of  our  Partridge 
I  never  saw  one  jerk  its  tail,  as  the  Ruffed  Grouse  does  ;  nor  do 
they  burrow  in  the  snow,  like  that  bird,  but  usuajly  resort  to 
trees,  to  save  themselves  from  their  pursuers.     Thev  seldom 
move  from  thence  at  the  barking  of  a  dog  ;  and,  when  roused, 
fly  only  to  a  short  distance,  uttering  a  few  clucks,  which  they 
repeat  on  alighting.     In  general,  when  a  flock  is  discovered, 
each  individual  forming  it  may  be  easily  caught ;  for,  so  seldom 
do  they  see  men  in  the  secluded  places  they  inhabit,  that  they 
do  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  the  hostile  propensities  of  the  race 
Along  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  the  Spruce  Partridge 
IS  much  more  common  than  the  Ruffed  Grouse ;  which,  indeed 
gradually  becomes  scarcer  the  farther  north  we  proceed,  and  is 
unknown   in   Labrador,  where   it   is   replaced    by  the  Willow 
Grouse,  and  two  other  species.     The  females  of  the  Canada 
Grouse  differ  materially  in  their  coloring,  in  different  latitudes. 
In  Maine,  for  instance,  they  are  more  richly  colored  than  in  La- 
brador,  where  I  observed  that  all  the  individuals  procured  by  me 
were  of  a  much  grayer  hue  than  those  shot  near  Dennisville 
The   like  difference  is,  perhaps,  still   more  remark'able   in  the 
Ruffed  Grouse,  which  are  so  very  gray  and  uniformly  colored 
m  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States,  as  to  induce  almost  eve.y 
person  to  consider  them  as  of  a  species  distinct  from  those  found 
m  Kentucky,  or  any  of  the  southern  mountainous  districts  of  the 
Union.     I  have  in  my  possession  skins  of  both  species,  procured 
a  thousand  miles  apart,  that  present  these  remarkable  differences 
in  the  general  hue  of  their  plumage. 

"  All  the  species  of  this  genus  indicate  the  approach  of  rainy 
weather  or  a  snow  storm  with  fa-  more  precision  than  the  best 
barometer;  for,  op  the  afternoon  previous  to  the  occurrence  of 
such  weather,  they  all  resort  to  their  roosting-places  earlier  by 
several  hours,  than  they  do  during  a  continuation  of  fine  wea- 
ther. I  have  seen  groups  of  Grouse  flying  up  to  their  roost,  at 
mul-day,or  as  soon  as  the  weather  felt  heavy,  and  have  observed 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


77 


that  it  generally  rained  in  the  course  of  that  afternoon.  When, 
on  the  contrary,  the  same  flock  would  remain  busily  engaged  in 
search  of  food,  until  sunset,  I  found  the  following  morning  fresh 
and  clear.  Indeed,  I  believe  that  this  kind  of  foresight  exists  in 
the  whole  tribe  of  gallinaceous  birds. 

"  One  day,  while  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  I  accidentally  al- 
most walked  upon  a  female  Canada  Grouse,  surrounded  by  her 
young  brood.  It  was  on  the  18th  of  July.  The  affrighted  mo- 
ther, on  seeing  us,  ruffled  up  all  her  feathers,  like  a  common  hen, 
and  advanced  close  to  us,  as  if  determined  to  defend  her  olikpring. 
Her  distressed  condition  claimed  our  forbearance,  and  we  allow- 
ed her  to  remain  in  safety.  The  moment  we  retired,  she  smoothed 
down  her  plumage,  and  uttered  a  tender  maternal  cluck,  when 
the  little  ones  took  to  their  wings,  although  they  were,  I  can 
venture  to  assert,  not  more  than  one  week  old,  with  so  much  ease 
and  delight,  that  I  felt  highly  pleased  at  having  allowed  them  to 
escape. 

"Two.days  afterward,  my  youthful  and  industrious  party 
returned  to  the  Ripley  with  a  pair  of  these  Grouse  in  moult. 
This  species  undergoes  that  severe  trial  at  a  much  earlier  season 
than  the  Willow  Ptarmigan.  My  son  reported  that  some  young 
ones  which  he  saw  with  their  mother,  were  able  to  fly  fully  a 
hundred  yards,  and  alighted  on  the  low  trees,  among  which  he 
caught  several  of  them,  which,  however,  died  before  he  reached 
the  vessel. 

"  This  species  is  found  not  only  in  the  State  of  Maine,  but 
also  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the 
northern  parts  of  New  York,  as  well  as  around  our  Northern 
Great  Lakes  and  the  head-waters  of  the  Missouri.  It  is  abun- 
dant in  the  British  Provinces  of  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia, 
Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 

"  Among  the  great  number,  procured  at  all  seasons,  of  the 
vear,  which  I  have  examined,  I  never  found  one  without  the 
rufous  band  at  the  extremity  of  the  tail ;  nor  did  I  see  any  hav- 
ing the  terminal  white  spot  on  the  upper  tail-coverts,  exhibited 
in  figures  of  this  spec'  ?s. 


t  '• 


I 
{: 

'fill 

'  :  i 


-'■    '♦■: 


7S 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


"  Their  food  consists  of  berries  of  different  sorts,  and  the  young 
twigs  and  blossoms  of  several  species  of  plants.  In  the  summer 
and  autumn,  I  have  often  found  them  gorged  with  berries  of  the 
plant  which  is  commonly  called  'Solomon's  seal.'  In  the 
winter  I  have  seen  the  crop  filled  with  the  short  leaves  of  the 
larch  or  hackmetack. 

"  I  have  frequently  heard  it  said  that  these  birds  could  be- 
knocked  down  with  sticks,  or  that  a  whole  covey  could  be  shot, 
while  perched  on  trees,  by  beginning  at  the  lowest  one ;  but  I 
never  witnessed  anything  of  the  kind,  and  cannot  therefore 
vouch  for  the  truth  of  the  assertion.  During  the  autumn  of 
183J,  these  birds  were  uncommonly  plentiful  in  the  State  of 
Maine.  My  friend  Edward  Harris,  of  New  York,  Thomas 
Lincoln,  and  others,  killed  a  great  number ;  and  the  latter  gen- 
tleman procured  a  pair  alive,  which  were  fed  on  oats  and  did 
v/ell. 

"  The  flesh  of  this  Grouse  is  dark,  and  fit  for  being  eaten 
only  when  it  has  fed  on  berries.  In  winter,  when  it  feeds  on 
the  leaves  of  trees  and  other  plants,  the  flesh  is  quite  bitter  and 
disagreeable. 

"According  to  Dr.  Richardson,  all  the  thick  and  swampy 
black  spruce  forests  between  Canada  and  the  Arctic  ocean 
abound  with  this  bird,  and  considerable  numbers  exist,  in  the 
severest  seasons,  as  high  as  the  67th  parallel.  I  am  informed 
by  Mr.  Townsend  that  it  is  also  plentiful  on  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  the  plains  of  the  Columbia,  from  which  pnrts  I  have 
obtained  specimens  differing  in  nothing  from  others  procured  in 
Maine  and  Labrador.  I  have  also  compared  those  in  the  Edin- 
burgh Museum,  which  Mr.  Douglass  was  pleased  to  name 
Franklin's  Grouse,  with  several  of  ny  own,  and  feel  confident 
that  they  are  all  of  one  and  the  same  species." 

From  this  vivid  and  life-like  description  of  this  beautiful  little 
Grouse,  its  habits,  food,  motions,  and  the  districts  which  it 
inhabits,  it  will  be  evident  to  all  that  it  cannot  be  denied  a  plare 
among  the  Upland  game  of  the  United  States  and  British  Fro 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


•9 


vinces;  while  it  is,  I  fear,  scarcely  less  apparent  that  neither  its 
numbers  nor  its  manners  will  ever,  in  probability,  allow  it  to  be 
pursued  successfully  for  the  purposes  of  sport. 
*  In  one  respect  only  I  must  venture  to  differ  from  th,  great 
authority  and  venerable  man,  whom  I  have  quoted  above  ;  and 
this  on  a  point  only  whereon  the  least  scientific  may  be  allowed 
to  differ  from  the  opinions  of  the  wisest ;  since  it  is  admitted 
everywhere  that  de  gitstibus  non  est  disputandum.  Mr.  Audubon 
says  that  in  winter  the  flesh  is  bitter  and  disagreeable.  I  have 
eaten  it  in  winter,  and  then  only,  and  while  I  must  admit  the 
almost  resinous  aromatic  bitterness^  I  venture  to  pronounce  it 
delicious  in  the  extreme  ;  and  I  believe  that  all  epicures  in  game 
will  agree  with  me— all  those,  I  mean,  who  prefer  the  back 
bone  and  thighs  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  of  America,  or  the  Moor- 
fowl  of  the  British  Isles,  to  the  tamer  white  meat  of  the  breast. 
European  readers  will  understand  the  flavor  I  allude  to,  when  I 
state  that  it  closely  resembles  that  of  the  Capercaillie,  as  import- 
ed from  Norway  in  the  winter  season. 

With  this  species  I  shall  conclude  my  notice  of  the  Grouse 
Tetraonidce  of  America,  since  the  Willow  Ptarmigan,  Tetrao 
Saliceti,  "  Red-necked  Partridye,^^  is  so  very  rare  that  it  really 
cannot  be  included  under  the  head  of  Game,  even  that  indefati- 
gable explorer,  Mr.  Audubon,  having  failed  to  discover  it 
within  the  limits  of  the  States,  although  he  expresses  his  con- 
viction that  "  it  exists  in  the  State  of  Maine,  as  well  as  in  the 
Northern  Districts  bordering  on  the  great  lakes." 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  desire  to  be  informed,  and  to 
learn  tht  distinctions  between  Grouse,  Pheasant,  and  Partrido-e 
neither  of  the  latter  species  existing  in  America,  I  will  state  sim- 
ply and  briefly  that  all  Grouse  are  feathered  on  the  legs,  below 
the  termination  of  the  thigh,  some  quite  to  the  toe  nails.  The 
Ruffed  Grouse  is  feathered  below  the  knee— the  Pinnated  and 
Canada  Grouse  to  the  ancles— the  Willow  Grouse  to  the  claws. 
Of  many  generic  marks  this  is  the  most  decided.  No  game- 
bird  but  the  Grouse  is  feathered  below  the  knee,  and  he  always 


!    i 


''      ^ 


;.   S 


^ 


fiO 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


AMERICAN    QUAIL. 

Ortyx  Virginiana-Stephens.  La  Perdnx  d^Amerique-Brissot. 
The  Quail,--  The  Partridge^^  in  Pennsylvania  and  South- 
ward,  improperly. 

"Male  10.15.     Female  9 j.  14. 

"Breeds  abundantly  from  Texas  to  Massachusetts;  in  tho 
interior,  high  on  the  Missouri,  and  in  all  intermediate  districts' 
"  Adult  male. 

"Bill  short,  rohust,  rather  obtuse,  the  base  covered  with 
feathers ;  upper  mandible*  with  the  dorsal  outline  curved  the 
sides  convex,  the  edges  overlapping,  the  tip  declinate :  under 
mand.ble  nearly  straight  in  its  dorsal  outline,  arched  on  the 
edges,  the  sides  convex,  nostrils  concealed  among  the  feathers 
Head  and  neck  of  ordinary  size ;  body  short  and  bulky  Feet 
ot  ordinary  length  ;  tarsus  anteriorly  scutellate,t  a  little  com- 
pressed, spurless.  Toes  scutellate  above,  pectinate^  on  the 
sides  ;  claws  arched,  obtuse. 

"  Plumage  compact,  glossy.     Feathers  of  the  upper  part  of 
the    head   erectile   into   a   tuft.      Wings   short,   broad,   much 
curved,  and  rounded  ;  the  fourth  quill  the  longest.     Tail  short 
rounded,  of  twelve  rounded  feathers.  ' 

"Bill   dark   brown.     Iris    hazel.     Feet   grayish  blue.     The 
forehead   a  broad  line  over  each  eye,  and  the  throat  and  fore- 
neck  white.     Lore,  auricular§  coverts,  and  a  broad  semilunar 
band  on  the  foreneck,  more  or  less  black.     Upper  part  of  the 
head,  hind  and  lower  part  of  the  neck,  all  round,  reddish  brown 
Upper  back  and  wing  coverts,  bright  brownish  red;  the  lower 
par     of  the   back,  light   red,  tinged  with   yellow..     Primaries 
dusky,  externally  margined  with  blue ;  secondaries  irregularly 
barred  with  light  red.     Tail  grayish  blue,  excepting  the  middle 
*  Mandible— division  of  bill  corresponding  to  the  jaws 
t  Scutellate--coyeTed  with  scal.s  overlapping  each  other  like  tiles. 
I  rectmate — toothed  like  a  comb. 
(j  Auricular — belonging  to  the  ear. 


# 


UPLAND    8H00TINO. 


81 


feathers,  which  are  dull  grayish  yellow,  sprinkled  with  black 
Sides  ot  the  neck   spotted   with   white.     Under  parts   white, 
streaked  with  brownish-red,  transversely  and  undulatingly  barred 
with  black.     Sides  and  under  tail  coverts,  reddish. 

"  Length,  10  inches :  extent  of  wings,  15  ;  bill  along  the 
back,  1,  along  the  gap,  ^ ;  tarsus  i ;  middle  toe  nearly  the 
same. 

"  Young  Male. 

"  Similar  to  the  adult  male  in  the  general  distribution  of  the 
colors,  but  the  white  of  the  head  and  throat  bright  reddish- 
yellow  ;  the  back  of  the  fore-neck  and  sides  of  the  head,  deep 
brown  ;  the  under  parts  less  pure  and  more  dusky  ;  and  the  tail 
of  a  duller  gray. 

"  Adult  Female. 

"The  female  resembles  the  young  male,  but  is  more  deci- 
dedly colored ;  the  bill  darker,  the  head  of  a  more  uniform  and 
richer  reddish-yellow  ;  the  sides  of  the  neck  spotted  with  yel- 
low and  black. 

"  Young  Female. 

"  The  young  females  are  somewhat  smaller  and  lighter  in 
their  tints  than  the  yuung  males. 

"  Very  young  Birds. 

"  Bill  brownish-yellow.  Iris  light  hazel.  The  general  color 
of  the  upper  parts,  light  yellowish-brown,  patched  with  gray  ,• 
sides  of  the  head  dusky. ">'— Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

"This  well  known  bird  is  a  general  inhabitant  of  North 
America,  from  the  northern  parts  of  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia, 
m  which  latter  place  it  is  said  to  be  migratory  to  the  extrei  lity 
of  the  peninsula  of  Florida,  and  was  seen  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Great  Osage  Village  in  the  interior  of  Louisiana.  They 
are  numerous  in  Kentucky  and  Ohio.  Mr.  Pennant  remarks 
that  they  have  been  lately  ir.ti-dui.ced  into  the  island  of  Jamaica, 
where  they  appear  to  thrive  greatly,  breeding  in  that  warm 
climate  twice  in  the  year.  Capt.  Henderson  mentions  them  as 
being  plenty  near  the  Belize,  at  the  Bay  of  Honduras.     Thev 


a. 


I' 


\  ' 


( } 

i; 


'M 


\  ; 


I  i 


*     r:l 


VOL.  I. 


t> 


82 


FRANK    FOBESTEr's   FIELD    SPORTS. 


rarely  frequent  the  forest,  and  are  most  numerous  in  the  vicinity 
of  well  cultivated  plantations,  where  grain  is  plenty.     They, 
however,  orcasionally  seek  sheltt-r  in  the  woods,  perching  on 
the  branches,  or  secreting  themselves  among  the  brushwood, 
but  are  found  most  usually  in  open  fields,  or  along  fences  shel- 
tered by  thickets  of  briars;  when  they  are  not  too  much  perse- 
cuted by  the  sportsman  they  become  almost  half  domesticated, 
approach  the  barn,  particularly  in  winter,  and  sometimes  in  that 
severe  season  mix  with  the  poultry  to  glean  up  a  subsistence. 
They  remain  with  us  a  whole  year,  and  often  suffer  extremely 
by  long,  hard  winters,  and  deep  snows.     At  such  times  the  arts 
of  man  combine  with  the  inclemency  of  the  season  for  their 
destruction.     To  the  ravages  of  the  gun  are  added  others  of  a 
more  insidious  kind.     Traps  are  placed  on  almost  every  planta- 
tion in  such  places  as  they  are  known  to  frequent.     They  are 
formed  of  lath  or  ihinly  split  sticks,  somewhat  in  the  shape  of 
an  obtuse  cone,  laced  together  with  cord,  having  a  small  hole 
at  the  top  with  a  sliding  lid  to  take  out  the  game  by.     This  is 
supported  by  the  common  figure  4  trigger,  and  grain  is  scattered 
below  and    leading  to  the  place.     By  this  contrivance  ten  or 
fifteen  have  sometimes  been  taken  at  a  time.     These  are  some- 
times brought  alive  to  market,  and  occasionally  bought  up  by 
sportsmen,  who,  if  the  season  be  very  severe,  sometimes  pre- 
serve and  feed  them  till  Spring,  when  they  are  humanely  turned 
out  to  their  native  fields  again,  to  be  put  to  death  some  future 
time  secundum   artem.     Between    the   months   of  August   and 
March  great  numbers  of  these  birds  are  brought  to  the  market 
of  Philadelphia,  where  they  are  sold  at  from  twelve  to  eighteen 
cents  a  piece. 

"  The  Quail  begins  to  build  early  in  May.  The  nest  is  made 
on  the  ground,  usually  at  the  bottom  of  a  thick  tuft  of  grass  that 
.shelters  and  conceals  it.  The  materials  are  leaves  and  fine  dry 
grass,  in  considerable  quantity.  It  is  well  covered  above,  and 
an  opening  left  on  one  side  for  entrance.  The  female  lays  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-four  eggs,  of  a  pure  white,  without  any  spot.s. 
Tlie  time  of  incubation  has  been  stated  to  me  by  variou.s  per- 


:l 


UPLAND    SHOOTINO. 


83 


sons  at  four  weeks,  when  the  eggs  were  placed  under  the 
domestic  Hen.     The  young  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  they  are 
freed  from  the  shell,  and  are  conducted  about  in  search  of  food 
by  the  female ;  are  guided  by  her  voice,  which,  at  that  time 
resembles  the  twittering  of  young  chickens,  and  sheltered  by 
her  wmgs  m  the  same  manner  as  the  domestic  fowl,  but  with 
all   that  secrecy  and   precaution  for  their  safety   which   their 
helplessness    and   greater    danger   require.     In   this    situation, 
should  the  little  timid  family  be   unexpectedly   surprised,  the 
utmost  alarm  and  consternation  prevails.     The  mother  throws 
herself  m  the  path,  fluttering  along  and  beating  the  ground  with 
her  wmgs,  as  if  sorely  wounded,  using  every  artifice  she  is  master 
ot  to  entice  the  passenger  in  pursuit  of  herself,  uttering  at  the 
same  time  certain  peculiar  notes  of  alarm,  well  understood  by 
the  young,  who  dive  separately  amongst  the  grass,  and  secrete 
hemse  ves    until   the   danger   is   over,  and  the  parent,  havin-. 
decoyed  the  pursuer  to  a  safe  distance,  returns  by  a  circuitous 
route  to  collect  and  lead  them  off.    This  well  known  manoeuvre 
which  nme  times  in  ten  is  successful,  is  honorable  to  the  feel- 
ings  and  judgment  of  the   bird,  but  a  severe  satire  on  man 
The    affectionate    mother,    as    if   sensible   of   the    avaricious 
cruelty  of  his  nature,  tempts  him  with  a  larger  prize  to  save 
her  more  helpless  offspring,  and  pays  him  as  avarice  and  cruelty 
ought  always  to  be  paid,  with  mortification  and  disappointment 
The  eggs  of  the  Quail  have  been  frequently  placed  under 
the  domestic  Hen,  and  hatched  and  reared  with  equax  success 
as  her  own,  though  generally  speaking,  the  young  Partridges, 
being  more    restless  and  vagrant,  often   lose   themselves   and 
disappear.     The  Hen  ought  to  be  a  particular  good  nurse,  not 
at  ail  disposed  to  ramble,  in   which  case  they  are  very  easily 
>aised.     Those  that  survive  acquire  all  the  familiarity  of  com- 
mon Chickens,  an.l  there  is  little  doubt  that  if  proper  measures 
were  taken  and  pernevered  in  for  a  few  years,  they  mio-ht  be 
completely  domesticated.     They  have  been  often  kept  during 
the  first  season  and  through  the  whole  of  that  winter,  but  have 
uniformly  deserted  in  the  spring.     Two  young  Partridges  that 


I  I  KB 


M 


FRANK    forester's    HELD   SPORTS. 


were  brought  up  by  a  Hen,  when  abandoned  by  her,  associated 
with  the  cows,  which  they  regularly  followed  to   the  fields, 
returned  with   them  when   they  came  home  in  the  evening, 
stood  by  them  while  they  were  milked,  and  again  accompanied 
them  to  the  pasture.     These  remained  during  the  winter,  lodg- 
ing in  the  stable,  but  as  soon  as  spring  came  they  disappeared. 
Of  this  fact  I  was   informed  by  a  very  respectable  lady,  by 
whom  they  were  particularly  observed.     It  has  been  frequently 
asserted   to   me   that   the   Quails   lay   in   each    others    nesls. 
Though  I  have  never  myself  seen  a  ease  of  this  kind,  I  do  not 
think  it  altogether  improbable,  from  the   fact  that  they  have 
often  been  known  to  drop  their  eggs  in  the  nest  of  the  common 
Hen,  when  that  happened  to  be  in  the  fields  or  at  a  small  dis- 
tance from   the  house.     The  two  Partridges  above  mentioned 
were  raised  in  this  manner,  and  it  was  particularly  remarked  by 
the  lady  who  gave  me  the  information,  that  the  Hen  sat  for 
several  days  after  her  own  eggs  were  hatched,  until  the  young 
Quails  made  their  appearance.     The  Partridge,  on  her  part, 
has  sometimes  been  employed  to  hatch  the  eggs  of  the  common 
domestic  Hen.     A  friend  of  mine,  who  himself  made  the  experi- 
ment, informs  me  that  of  several  Hen's  eggs  which  he  substi- 
tuted in  place  of  those  of  the  Partridge,  she  brought  out  the 
whole,  and  that  for  several  weeks  he  occasionally  surprised  her 
in  various  parts  of  the  plantation,  with  her  brood  of  Chickens, 
on  which  occasions  she  exhibited  all  that  distressful  alarm,  and 
practised  her  usual  manoeuvres   for   their  preservation.     Even 
after  they  were  considerably  grown,  and  larger  than  the  Part- 
ridge herself,  she  continued  to  lead  them  about ;  but  though  the 
notes  or  call  were  those  of  common  Chickens,  tlieir  manners 
had  all  the  shyness,  timidity,  and  alarm  of  young  Partridges, 
running  with  great  rapidity,  and  squatting  in  the  grass  exactly 
in   the  manner  of  the   Partridge.     Soon   after  this  they  disap- 
peared, having  probably  been  destroyed  by  dogs,  by  the  gun, 
«.r  by  birds  of  prey.     Whether  the  domestic  fowl  might  not  by 
this  method  be  very  soon  brought  back  to  its  original  savage  state. 
aiid  thereby  supply  another  additional  subject  for  the  amusement 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


86 


of  the  sportsman,  will  scarcely  admit  of  doubt ;  but  the  experi- 
ment, in  order  to  secure  its  success,  would  require  to  be  made  in 
a  quarter  of  the  country  less  exposed  than  ours  to  the  ravages 
of   guns,   dogs,    traps,   and    the  deep    snows  of   winter,  that 
the  new  tribe  might  have  full  time  to  become  completely  natu- 
ralized and  well  fixed  in  all  their  native  habits.     About  the 
beginning  of  September,  the  Quail  being  now  nearly  full  grown 
and  associated  in  flocks  or  coveys  of  from  four  or  five  to  thirty, 
afford  considerable  sport  to  the  gunner.     At  this  time  the  notes 
of  the  male  are  most  frequent,  clear,  and  loud.     His  common 
call  consists  of  two  notes,  with  sometimes  an  introductory  one, 
and  is  similar  to  the  sound  produced  by  pronouncing  the  words 
Bob  White.     This  call  may  be  easily  mistaken  by  whistling,  so 
as  to  deceive  the  bird  itself,  and  bring  it  near.     WhUe  uttering 
this  he  is  usually  perched  on  a  rail  of  the  fence,  or  a  low  limb 
of  an  apple  tree,  where  he  will  sometimes  sit  repeating,  at 
short  intervals.  Bob  White,  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time.     When 
a  covey  are  assembled  in  a  thicket,  or  corner  of  a  field,  and 
about  to  take  wing,  they  make  a  low,  twittering  sound,  not 
unlike  that  of  young  Chickens ;  and  when  the  covey  is  dis- 
persed  they   are   called    together   by   a   loud   and   frequently 
repeated  note,  peculiarly  expressive  of  tenderness  and  anxiety. 
The  food  of  the  Partridge  consists  of  grain,  seeds,  insects,  and 
berries   of  various   kinds.     Buckwheat   and    Indian  Corn   are 
particular  favorites.     In  September  and  October  the  Buckwheat 
fields   afford   them   an   abundant   supply  as   well  as  a  secure 
sheltei.     They  usually  roost  at  night  in  the  middle  of  a  field, 
on  high   ground,  and  from  the  circumstance  of  the  dung  being 
found  in  such  places  in  one  round  heap,  it  is  generally  con- 
jectured that  they  roost  in  a  circle  with  their  heads  outward ; 
each  individual  in  this  position  forming  a  kind  of  guard  to  pre- 
vent surprise.     They  also  continue  to  lodge  for  several  nights 
in  the  same  spot.     The  Partridge,  like  all  the  rest  of  the  galli- 
naceous order,  flies  with  a  loud,  whirring  sound,  occasioned 
by  the  shortness,  concavity,  and  rapid  motion  of  its  win<rs,  and 
the  comparative  weight  of  its   body.     The  steadiness  "of  its 


< 

f 

. 

s 

(, 

:', 

ii 

1 

I 

,      ■ 

•  ! 


i 

■      J.     f; 


I' 

I 


U6 


TRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


horizontal  flight,  however,  renders  it  no  difficult  mark  to  the 
sportsman,  particularly  when  assisted  by  his  sagacious  pointer. 
The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  peculiarly  white,  tender  and  delicate, 
and  unequalled  by  that  of  any  other  of  its  genus  in  the  United 
States.  There  is  only  one  species  of  Quail  at  present  known 
within  the  United  States."— ^Fi/son'*  Jm.  Ornithology. 

THE   WOODCOCK. 

Scolopax  Minor.— La  Becasse  d'Amerique—Brissot.     The  Mud- 
Snipe,  Blind  Snipe,  Big-headed  Snipe,  Bog- Sucker. 

"Male,  11.16.     Female,  llyi.lTi. 

"  Distributed  throughout  the  country,  extremely  abundant  in 
the  Middle  and  Eastern  Districts,  as  well  as  in  the  interior, 
where  it  breeds  as  far  as  Nova  Scotia.  Equally  abundant  in 
wmter,  in  the  Southern  States,  though  many  migrate  Southward. 

"  Adult  Male. 

"Bill  double  the  length  of  the  head,  straight,  slender,  taper- 
mg,  sub-trigonal,  and  deeper  than  broad  at  the  base,  slightly 
depressed  toward  the  end.  Upper  mandible,  with  the  dorsal 
Ime  straight ;  the  ridge  narrow,  toward  the  end  flattened ;  the 
sides  nearly  erect,  sloping  outward  toward  the  soft,  obtuse 
edges ;  the  tip  blunt,  knob-like,  and  longer  than  that  of  the 
lower  mandible.  Nostrils  basal,  lateral,  lineal,  very  small 
Lower  mandible  broader  than  the  upper ;  the  angle  very  long 
and  narrow,  the  dorsal  line  straight,  the  back  broadly  rounded 
the  sides  marked  with  a  deep  groove,  sloping  inward  at  the 
base,  outward  toward  the  end,  the  edges  soft  and  obtuse  the 
tip  rounded.  ' 

"  Head  rather  large,  oblong,  narrowed  anteriorly ;  eyes  large, 
and  placed  high.  Neck  short  and  thick.  Body  rather  full' 
Feet  rather  short ;  tibia  feathered  to  the  joint ;  tarsus  rather 
short,  compressed,  covered  in  front  by  numerous  scutella ;  on 
the  sides  and  behind  with  sub-hexagonal  scales,  and  havin<r  a 
row  of  small  scutelliform  scaler  along  the  outer  side  behind. 
Toes  free,  slender,   the  first  ve./  small,  the  second  slightly 


UPLAND   8H00TIN0. 


87 


shorter  than  the  fourth,  the  third  much  longer  and  exceeding 
the  tarsus  in  length;  all  scutellate  above,  marginate,  flattish, 
beneath.  ClawH  very  small,  arched,  acute,  that  of  the  hind 
toe  extremely  small,  of  middle  toe  with  a  thin  inner  edge. 

"  Plumage  very  soft,  elastic,  blended  ;  of  the  fore-part  of  the 
head  very  short ;  of  the  neck  full.  Wings  short,  rounded  ;  the 
fourth  and  fifth  quills  about  equal  and  longest,  the  first  three 
extraordinarily  attenua'-d,  being  in  fact  sublinear,  narrower  be- 
yond the  middle,  the  inner  web  slightly  enlarged  toward  the 
end,  the  first  as  long  as  the  seventh.  Secondaries  broad,  the 
outer  a  little  incurved  and  roundeii,  the  inner  tapering  and 
elongated.  Tail  very  short,  wedge-shaped,  of  twelve  narrow 
feathers,  which  taper  toward  the  rounded  point. 

"Bill   light  yellowish-brown,  dusky  toward   the   end.     Iris 
brown.     Feet  tlesh-colored  ;  claws  brownish  black.     The  fore- 
head is  yellowish-gray,  with  a  few  dark  mottlings  in  the  centre. 
On  the  upper  part  of  the  head  are  two  blackish-brown  broad 
transverse  bands,  and  on  the  occiput  two  narrov/^er,  separated 
by  bands  of  light  red  ;  a  brownish-black  loral  band  and  a  narrow 
irregular  line  of  the  same  across  the  cheek,  and  continued  to  the 
occiput.     The  upper  parts  are  variegated  with   brownish-black, 
light  yellowish-red,  and  ash-gray.    There  are  three  broad,  lon- 
gitudinal bands  of  the  first  color,  barred  with  the  second,  down 
the  back,  separated  by  two  of  the  last.     The  inner  wing  co- 
verts and  secondary  quills  are  similarly  barred  ;  the  outer,  pale 
grayish-red,  faintly  barred  with  dusky.     The  quills  are  grayish- 
brown,  tipped  with  dull  gray,  the  secondaries  spotted  on  the 
outer  web  with  dull  red.     Upper  tail  coverts  ^jarred  ;   tail  fea- 
thers brownish-black,  their  tips  gray,  their  outer  edges  mottled 
with  reddish.     The  sides  of  the  neck  are  gray,  tinged  with  red  ; 
the  lower  parts  in  general,  light  red,  tinged  with  gray  on  the 
breast,  on  the  sides  and  lower  wing  coverts  deeper ;  the  lower 
tail  coverts  with  a  central  dusky  line,  and  the  tip  white. 

"  Length  to  end  of  tail,  11  inches  ;  to  end  of  wings,  9^  ; 
wing  from  flexure,  5| ;  tail,  2j\ ;  bill  along  the  ridge,  2/a ;  along 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


K^  it. 


88 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


*°t'dl";''  '°';"™?'"W«'2iii  '--,IA;  middle.™, 
If 5,  Its  claw,  ,' ;  weight,  6ioz.  ' 

"  Adult  Female. 

of",twf'3°"t°"1'"'^'  «o,„dof™g,,,o^,  .„e„d 
he  ndge,  2r  J ;  along  the  edge  of  lower  mandible,  2t| :  tarsus 
Wi  middle  toe,  lA;  its  olaw.li  weight,  Sioz.        ""  "'™'' 
"  Fledged  young. 

in  "p!n^,^"  "  "°'T""^  """"" '°  °"'  'P""*™™-    "  "rive, 
.n  Pennsylvania   early   in   March-Sometimes   sooner-and    I 

o;r  ^n" "" ""''-  -- '- "-  -'* »'  ^-«  wh;il 

to  fe^r  The""'"*r'  "^  '"'^''  """  °f™  ™"»«'y  places 
to  feed  in      They  soon  disperse  themselves  over  the  country  to 

breed      About  the  beginning  „f  J„|y,  particularly  in  long-conu! 

nued  hot  weather,  they  descehd  to  the  marshy  shorlVfur 

large  rivers,  their  favorite  spring,  and  watery  recesses  inland 

being  chiefly  dried  up.     To  the  former  of  these  retreats  they 

are  pursued  by  the  merciless  sportsman,  flushed  by  dogs,  and 

shot  down  ,n  great  numbers.     This  species  of  amusement!  ^hen 

eager  y  followed,  is  still  more  laborious  than  Snipe-sh„„,i„: 

and,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  or  "  cripple,"  as  it  is  usualty 

called-viz    deep  mud  intersected  with  old  logs,  which  are  co- 

bushes-lhe  best  dogs  are  soon  tired  out,  and  it  is  customary 
with  sportsmen  who  regularly  pursue  this  diversion,  to  have  two 
sets  of  dogs  to  relieve  each  other  alternately 

"  The  Woodcock  usually  begins  to  lay  in  April,  Thenest  is 
p  aced  on  the  ground,  in  a  retired  part  of  the  woods,  frequently 
at  the  root  of  an  old  stump.     It  i,  formed  of  a  few  Jthered 


.  "^ 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


89 


leaves  and  stalks  of  grass,  laid  with  very  little  art.     The  female 
lays  four,  sometimes  five  eggs,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long, 
and  an  inch,  or  rather  more,  in  diameter,  tapering  suddenly  to 
the  small  end.     These  are  of  a  dull  clay  color,  marked  with 
spots  of  brown,  particularly  at  the  great  end,  and  interspersed 
with  others  of  a  very  pale  purple.     The  nest  of  the  Woodcock 
has,  in  several  instances  that  have  come  to  my  knowledge,  been 
found  with  eggs  in  February,  but  its  usual  time  of  beginning  to 
lay  is  in  April.     In  July,  August  and  September,  they  are  con- 
sidered in  good  order  for  shooting.     The  Woodcock  is  properly 
a  nocturnal  bird,  feeding  chiefly  at  night,  and  seldom  stirring 
about  till  after  sunset.     At  such  times,  as  well  as  in  the  early 
part  of  the  morning,  particularly  in  the  spring,  he  rises  by  a  kind 
of  spiral  course,  to  a  considerable  height  in  the  air,  uttering  at 
times  a  sudden  quacky  till  hs  ving  gained  his  utmost  height,  he 
hovers  around  in  a  wild  and  iiregular  manner,  making  a  sort  of 
murmuring  sound,  then  descends  with  rapidity,  as  he  rose.  When 
uttering  his  common  note  on  the  ground,  he  seems  to  do  it  with 
difficulty,  throwing  his  head  toward  the  earth,  and  frequently  jet- 
ting up  his  tail.     These  notes  and  manoeuvres  are  most  usual  in 
the  spring,  and  are  the  call  of  the  male  to  his  favorite  female. 
Their  food  consists  of  various  larvae  and  other  aquatic  worms,  for 
which,  during  the  evening,  they  are  almost   continually  turning 
over  the  leaves  with  their  bills,  or  searching  in  the  bogs.    Their 
flesh  is  reckoned  delicious,  and  prized  highly.     They  remain 
with  us  till  late  in  the  autumn,  and,  on  the  falling  of  the  first 
snows,  descend  from  the  ranges  of  the  Alleghany  to  the  lower 
parts  of  the  country,  in  great  numbers— soon  after  which,  viz., 
in  November,  they  move  off  to  the  South.  This  bird,  in  its  gene- 
ral figure  and  manners,  very  greatly  resemble  the  Woodcock  of 
Europe  ;  but  is  considerably  less,  and  differently  marked  below, 
being  an  entirely  distinct  species.     A  few  traits  will  clearly  point 
out  these  difference*.     The  lower  parts  of  the  European  Wood- 
cock are  thickly  barred  with  dusky-waved  lines  on  a  yellowish- 
white  ground.     The  present  species  has  those  parts  of  a  bright 
ferruginous.     The  male,  of  the  American  species,  weighs  ftom 


U* 


-t 

I 

r 

tlJ 

i: 

90 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


five  to  H.x  ounces,  U.e  female  eight ;  the  European  twelve.  The 
European  W<,odcock   makes  his  first  appearance  in  Britain  in 
October  and  November,  that  country  being,  in  fact,  only  its 
^vmter  quarters  ;  for,  early  in  March,  they  move  off  to  the 
northern  parts  of  the  continent  to  breed.     The  American  spe- 
cies, on  the  contrary,  winteis  in  countries  south  of  the  United 
States,  arrives  here  early  in  March,  extends  its  migration  as  fer 
at  least  as  the  river  St.  Lawrence-breeds  in  all  the  intermediate 
places,  and  retires  again  to  the  South  on  the  approach  of  winter. 
1  he  one  migrates  from  the  torrid  to  the  temperate  regions-lhe 
other  from  the  temperate  to  the  Arctic.     The  two  birds,  there- 
fore, notwithstanding  their  names  are  the  same,  differ  not  only 
in  size  and  markings,  but  also  in  native  climate.     Hence  the  ab- 
surdity of  those  who  would  persuade  us  that  the  Woodcock  of 
America  crosses  the  Atlantic  to  Europe,  and  vice  versa.     These 
observations  have  been  thought  necessary,  from  the  respectability 
of  some  of  our  own  writers,  who  seem  to  have  nd opted  this  opi- 
nion.    How  far  to  the  North  our  Woodcock  is  found,  I  am  un- 
able to  say.     It  is  not  mentioned  as  a  bird  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and 
being  altogether  unknown  in  the  Northern  parts  of  Europe,  it  is 
very  probable  that  its  migrations  do  not  extend  to  a  very  high 
latitude;  for  it  may  be  laid  down  as  a  general  rule,  that  those 
birds  which  migrate  to  the  Arctic  regions,  in  either  continent, 
are  very  often  common  to  both.     The  head  of  the  Woodcock  is 
ot  smgu.ar  conformation-large,  somewhat  triangular,  and  the 
eye  fixed  at  a  remarkable  distance  from  the  bill,  and  high  in  the 
head.     This  construction  was  necessary  to  give  a  greater  ran.e 
of  vision,  and  to  secure  the  eye  from  injury  while  the  owner  is 
searching  m  the  mire.     The  flight  of  the  Woodcock  is  slow. 
When  flushed   at  any  time  in  the  woods,  he  rises  to  the  height 
of  the  bushes  or  underwood,  and  almost  instantly  drops  behind 
them  again  at  a  short  distance,  generally  running  off  for  several 
yards  as  soon  as  he  touches  the  ground.     The  notion  that  there 
are  two  species  of  Woodcock  in  this  country,  probably  originated 
f  om  the  great  difference  of  size  between  the  male  and  female- 
the  latter  being  considerably  the  larger.     When  taken,  they  ut 


UPLAND    SIIOOTI.NO. 


91 


tb.  A  long,  clear,  but  feeble  /)««/>,  not  louder  than  that  of  a 
iiKJuse.  They  are  far  inferior  to  young  partridges,  in  running 
and  skulking,  and,  should  the  female  be  unfortunately  killed, 
may  be  easily  taken  on  the  Bpot."— Wilson's  Am,  Ornithology. 

COMMON    SNIPE. 
Scolopax  Wilsonii. — 7%e  English  Snipe. 

"Male  10J.17. 

"Distributed  throughout  the  country.  Breeds  from  Vir- 
ginia northward.  Exceedingly  abundant  in  the  Southern  and 
Western  districts  during  winter. 

"Adult  male. 

"  Bill  twice  as  long  as  the  head,  subulate,  straight,  depressed 
toward  the  end,  compressed  for  more  than  half  its  length. 
Upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  line.uaight;  the  ridge,  for  a 
short  space  at  the  base,  flattish,  then  convex;  towards  the 
end  flattened  ;  the  sides  with  a  narrow  groove  extending  to 
near  the  tip,  which  is  obtuse  and  probe-like ;  the  edges  soft 
and  obtuse.  Nostrils  basal,  linear,  very  small.  Lower  man- 
dible with  the  angle  extremely  narrow  and  long,  the  sides 
nearly  erect,  with  a  groove  having  several  bars  across  it ;  the 
end  of  both  mandibles  covered,  after  death,  with  numerous 
prominences,  or  rather  with  reticular  depressions,  leaving  small 
prominences  between  them. 

"Head  rather  small,  oblong,  narrowed  anteriorly,  the  fore- 
head elevated  and  rounded.  Neck  rather  short.  Body  rather 
full.  Legs  of  moderate  length,  slender;  tibia  bare  below, 
scutellate  before  and  behind;  tarsus  with  numerous  scutella 
before,  smaller  ones  behind,  and  reticulated  sides  ;  toes  very 
slender,  free,  scutellate  above,  narrow  and  slightly  margined 
beneath;  first  very  small,  third  longer  than  the  tarsus;  fourth 
much  shorter,  but  considerably  longer  than  the  second.  Claws 
slightly  arched,  extremely  compressed,  very  acute,  that  of  the 
third  toe  longest. 
"  Plumage  very  soft,  rather  full,  blended ;  on  the  forepart 


IT 


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! 


P^ 
i 


92 


rRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


of  the  head  very  short.     Wings  of  moderate  length,  narrow, 
sharp;    primaries  broad,  tapering,  but  rounded,  the  first  ex- 
tremely small  and  pointed,  the  second  longest,  the  third  very 
little  shorter,  the  rest  rapidly  graduated;    secondaries  broad, 
short,  incurved,  rounded,  the  inner  very  long,  tapering,  as  are 
the  scapulars.     Tail  short,  rounded,  of  sixteen  rounded  feathers. 
"Bill   brown,   the  granulated    part   toward  the  tip   black. 
Iris  hazel.     Feet   bluish   gray,   claws   dusky.     On  the  upper 
part  of  the  head  two  brownish-black  longitudinal  bands,  sepa- 
rated by  a  narrower  central  pale  brown  one,  and  with  another 
pale  brown  band  on  each  side  from  the  bill  over  the  eye.    Then 
a  loral  band  of  dark  brown ;  chin  whitish ;  neck  pale  reddish- 
brown,  spotted  with  brownish-black.     The  general   color  of 
upper  parts  is  brownish-black,  variegated  with  pale  reddish- 
brown,  of  which  latter  color  are  the  outer  edges  of  the  scapu- 
lars and  of  the  lateral  feathers  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  back. 
Wing^coverts,  and   inner  secondaries,  similarly  mottled;    the 
small  anterior  coverts,  the  primary  coverts,  primary  quills',  anc^ 
outer  secondaries,  deep  brown  more  or  less  tipped  with  white  • 
rump  barred  with  yellowish-gray  and  dusky  ;  upper  tail  coverts 
similar,  but   the   larger  barred  with  brownish-red  and   black 
Tail  feathers  brownish-black  at  the  base,  with  a  broad  sub- 
terminal  band  of  brownish-red  on  the  outer  web  of  the  two 
middle,  and  on  both  webs  of  the  rest,  excepting  the  outer  on 
each  side,  which  is  barred  with  brownish-black  and  white  the 
black  bars  five;  the  tips  of  all  white.     Anterior  part  of  breast 
like  the  neck,  the  rest  white ;  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts 
grayish-yellow,  barred  with  brownish-black  ;  lower  wine  co 
verts  similarly  mottled.  ° 

"  Length  to  end  of  tail,  10^  inches  ;  to  end  of  claws    11  >  • 
extent  of  wings,  17  ;  wing,  from  flexure,  5  ;  tail,  2| ;  bill'  alonJ 
the  back,  2r\  ;  along  the  edge  of  the  lower  mandible  2/-  •  tar 
sus,  1/^  ;  middle  toe,  U  ;  its  claw,  /, ;  weight  3oz. 
"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female  resembles  the  male,  but  is  rather  larger  '' 
Audubon^s  Birds  of  America. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


93 


"  This  bird  is  well  known  to  our  sportsmen,  and  if  not  the 
same,  has  a  very  near  resemblance  to  the  common  Snipe  of 
Europe.  It  is  usually  known  by  the  name  of  the  English 
Snipe,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Woodcock,  and  from  several 
others  of  the  same  genus. 

"  It  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  10th  of  March,  and 
remains  in  the  low  grounds  for  several  weeks,  the  greater  part 
then  move  off  to  the  north  and  to  the  higher  inland  districts,  to 
breed.     A  few  are  occasionally  found  and  consequently  breed 
in   our  low   marshes   during   the   summer.     When   they   first 
arrive   they  are   usually   lean,  but  when    in   good   order   are 
accounted  excellent  eating.     They  are  perhaps  the  most  diffi- 
cult to  shoot  of  all  our  birds,  as  they  fly  in  sudden  zigzag  lines, 
and  very  rapidly.     Great  numbers  of  these  birds  winter  on  the 
rice  grounds  of  the  Southern  States,  where,  in  the  month  of 
February,  they  appeared  to  be  much  tamer  than  they  usually  are 
here,  as  I  have  frequently  observed  them  running  about  among 
the  springs  and  watery  thickets.     I  was  told  by  the  inhabitants 
that  they  generally  disappeared  in  the  spring.     On  the  20th 
of  March  I  found  these  birds  extremely  numerous  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  ponds  near  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  also  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Lexington,  in  the  same  State,  as  late  as  the  10th 
of  April.     I  was  told  by  several  people  that  they  are  abundant 
in  the  Illinois  country  up  as  far  as  Lake  Michigan.     They  are 
but  seldom  seen  in  Pennsylvania  during  the  summer,  but  are 
occasionally  met  with  in  considerable  numbers,  on  their  return 
in  autumn,  along  the  whole  east  side  of  the  Alleghany,  from 
the  sea   to   the    mountains.      They   have    the    same   soaring, 
irregular  flight  in  the  air,  in  gloomy  weather,  as  the  Snipe  of 
Europe ;  the  same  bleating  note,  and  occasional  rapid  descent, 
spring  from  the  marshes  with  the  like  feeble  squeak,  and  in 
every  respect  resemble  the  common  Snipe  of  Great  Britain 
except  in  being  about  an  inch  less,  and  in  having  sixteen  fea- 
thers in  the  tail  instead  of  fourteen,  the  number  said  by  Bewick 
to  be  in  that  of  Europe.     From  these  circumstances  we  must 
either  conclude    this   to  be  a  different  species,   or  partially 


ll 


94 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


changed  by  difTerence  of  climate ;  the  former  appears  to  me  tho 
most  probable  opinion  of  the  two. 

"  These  birds  abound  in  the  meadows  and  low  grounds  along 
our  large  rivers,  particularly  those  that  border  the  Schuylkill  and 
Delaware,  from  the  10th  of  March  to  the  middle  of  April,  and 
sometimes  later,  and  are  eagerly  sought  after  by  our  gunners. 
The  nature  of  the  grounds,  however,  which  these  birds  fre- 
quent, the  coldness  of  the  season,  and  peculiar  shyness  and 
agility  of  the  game,  renders  this  amusement  attractive  only  to 

the  most  dexterous,  active,  and  eager  of  our  sportsmen." 

Wilson' a  Am.  Ornithology. 

The  last  of  what  may  be  called  the  purely  Upland  game 
birds  of  North  America,  is  that  commonly  known  as  the  Up- 
land Plover,  also  called  the  Frost  Bird  and  Grass  Plover,  from 
the  places  which  it  frequents,  and  the  periods  at  which  it  is 
found  in  perfection.  It  is,  in  my  opinion,  with  no  exception, 
unless  perhaps  it  be  the  Canvass  Back  Duck,  the  most  delicious 
bird  that  flies.  Though  generally  known  as  a  Plover^  it  does 
not  belong  to  that  species,  but  to  that  of  Totanus,  Tatler,  a  sort  of 
connecting  link  between  the  Snipes  and  Sandpipers— the  Plover 
proper  having  no  hind  toe.  This  is  the  only  one  of  the  three 
families  above  named  that  is,  in  the  United  States,  a  land  bird, 
its  habits  being  those  of  the  European  Golden  Plover,  the 
American  namesake  of  which  is  essentially  a  shore  bird.  The 
Upland  Sandpiper,  or  Tatler,  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Audubon  : 

BARTRAM'S  TATLER. 

Totanus  Bartramius —  Upland  Plover,  Upland  Sandpiper,  Frost- 
bird,  Grass  Plover, 

"  Male,  12^.22.     Female,  13.22^ 

"  From  Texas  along  the  coast  to  Nova  Scotia.  Breeds  from 
Maryland  northward  to  the  Saskatchewan.  In  vast  flocks  in 
Louisiana,  Oppelousas,  and  the  Western  Prairies,  in  autumn  and 
spring.     Rare  in  Kentucky. 


UPLAND    SHOOTINO. 


95 


>> 


the 


"  Adult  Male. 

"  Bill  a  little  longer  than  the  head,  slender,  straight,  slightly- 
deflected  at  the  end.  Uppei  mandible  with  the  dorsal  line 
straight,  the  edges  convex,  the  sides  grooved  beyond  the  middle, 
afterward  convex,  the  edges  inflected,  the  tips  a  little  deflected, 
and  tapering  to  an  obtuse  point.  Nostrils  sub-basal,  lateral, 
linear,  pervious,  nearer  the  edge  than  the  dorsal  line.  Lower 
mandible  with  the  angle  very  narrow  and  elongated,  beyond  it 
the  outline  slightly  convex,  the  sides  sloping  outward  and  con- 
cave until  the  middle,  afterward  flattened,  the  edges  sharp,  the 
point  very  narrow. 

"  Head  rather  small,  convex  above,  compressed.  Neck  of 
moderate  length,  slender.  Body  rather  slender.  Feet  long  and 
slender,  tibia  bare  about  half  its  length,  scutellate  before  and 
behind  ;  tarsus  long,  slender,  having  before  and  behind  numerous 
scutella;  the  narrow  lateral  spaces  with  very  small,  oblong 
scales.  Toes  slender ;  the  first  very  short,  the  second  much 
shorter  than  the  fourth,  the  third  and  fourth  connected  at  the 
base  by  a  web ;  the  scutella  numerous  ;  claws  small,  compressed, 
slightly  arched,  rather  blunt. 

"  Plumage  soft ;  on  the  neck  and  lower  parts  blended  ;  on  the 
upper  rather  distinct.  Wings  rather  long,  acute,  narrow.  Pri- 
maries tapering  and  rounded  ;  the  first  longest,  the  second  a  little 
shorter,  the  rest  rapidly  graduated ;  secondari  es  obliquely  round- 
ed, the  inner  elongated  and  tapering.  Tail  of  moderate  length, 
much  rounded,  of  twelve  rather  narrow  feathers. 

"  Bill  yellowish-green,  tip  dusky,  the  edges  toward  the  base 
yellow.  Iris  dark  hazel.  Legs  and  tarsi  light  yellowish-gray, 
toes  rather  darker,  claws  brownish-black.  Upper  part  of  the 
head  dark  brown,  with  a  median  pale  yellowish  brown  line  : 
the  margins  of  the  feathers  also  of  that  color  which  prevails 
along  the  sides  of  the  head  and  the  back  of  the  neck,  which  are 
streaked  with  dusky  ;  the  eye  surrounded  with  yellowish-white. 
Throat  yellowish-white,  without  spots ;  forepart  and  sides  of  the 
neek,  with  a  portion  of  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  body,  cream- 
colored,  with  dusky  lines,  which  gradually  become  arrow-shaped 


96 


PllANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


on  the  breast,  forming  a  double  transverse  band ;  the  feathers 
on  the  side  barred  ;  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts  and  lower  wiug 
coverts  white,  banded  with  brownish-black.  On  the  upper 
parts  the  feathers  are  dark  brown,  glossed  with  green,  with  rich 
cream-colored  margins  ;  the  rump  darker.  On  the  margins  of 
the  scapulars,  within  the  pale  edge,  is  a  series  of  dusky  spots 
which,  toward  the  end,  become  continuous.  Alula,  primary 
coverts,  and  primary  quills  blackish-brown,  the  inner  webs 
crossed  by  white  bands,  until  about  an  inch  from  the  end  ;  the 
shaft  of  the  first  quill  white,  those  of  the  rest  dusky.  Secon- 
daries grayish-brown,  their  outer  margins  pale  brown  with  dusky 
spots ;  the  inner  darker.  The  two  middle  feathers  of  the  tail 
are  dark  olive,  tinged  with  gray,  transversely  barred  with  black, 
the  last  bar  arrow-shaped,  the  margins  light  cream-color,  the 
next  feather  on  each  side  lighter,  and  tinged  with  yellowish- 
red  ;  the  rest  gradually  lighter,  the  outer  white,  all  barred  with 
black. 

"  Length  to  the  end  of  tail,  12j  inches ;  to  the  end  of  wings, 
lla ;  to  the  end  of  the  claws,  13^  ;  extent  of  wings,  22  ;  wing 
from  flexure,  7;  tail,  3?;  base  part  of  tibia,  A ;  tarsus,  Ij^f ; 
first  toe,  A  ;  claw,  /f ;  bill  along  the  ridge,  1 A  ;  along  the  edge 
of  lower  mandible,  IfV  ;  weight,  6oz. 

"  Female. 

"  The  female  is  a  little  larger,  and  weighs  7oz.,  but  resem- 
bles the  male  in  color.  The  individual  of  which  the  weight  is 
here  given,  was  very  fat ;  but  I  have  never  met  with  any  that 
weighed  three-fourths  of  a  pound,  as  described  by  Wilson. 

"  The  Bartramian  Sandpiper  is  the  most  truly  terrestrial  of 
its  tribe  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  It  is  even  more  inclined 
at  all  seasons  to  keep  away  from  water  than  the  Kildeer  Plo- 
ver, which  may  often  be  seen  along  the  sandy  or  muddy  mar- 
gin of  the  shores  of  the  sea,  or  of  fresh-water  lakes  and  streams. 
Although  not  unfrequently  met  with  in  the  vicinity  of  such 
places,  it  never  ventures  to  wade  into  them ;  and  yet  the  form 
and  length  of  its  legs  and  feet,  would  naturally  induce  a  person 
not  acquainted  with  its  habits,  to  consider  it  as  a  wading-bird. 


UPLAND    8HOOTINO. 


97 


The  dry,  upland  plains  of  those  sections  of  Louisiana,  call- 
ed  Oppelousas  and  Attakapas,  are  amply  peopled  with  this  spe- 
c.es  early  in  spring,  as  well  as  in  autumn.     They  arrive  there 
from  the  vast  prairies  of  Texas  and  Mexico,  where  they  spend 
the  winter,  m  the  beginning  of  March  or  about  the  first  appear- 
ance  of  the  Martins-^ra«rfo  P«r;,«rea-and  return  about  the 
first  of  August.     They  are  equally  abundant  on  all  the  Western 
Pra.r.es  on  either  side  of  the  Missouri,  where,  however,  they 
arrive  about  a  month  later  than  in  Louisiana,  whence  they  dis- 
perse over  the  United  States,  reaching  the  Middle  Districts  early 
m  May,  and  the  State  of  Maine  by  the  middle  of  that  month,  or 
about  the  same  period  at  which  they  are  seen  in  Indiana,  Ken- 
tucky  and  Ohio.     Some  proceed  as  far  north  as  the  plains  ad- 
joining  the  Saskatchewan  River,  where  Dr.  Richardson  met  with 
this  species  in  May. 

"  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  Bartramian  Sandpiper  never 
forms  large  flocks ;  but  this  is  not  correct-for  in  the  neighbor- 
hood  of  New  Orleans,  where  it  is  called  the  '  Papabote  '  it 
usually  arrives,  in  great  bands,  in  spring,  and  is  met  with  on  the 
open  plains  and   large  grassy  savannahs,  where  it  generally  re- 
mains  about  two  weeks,_though  sometimes  individuals  may  be 
seen  as  late  as  the  16th  of  May.     I  have  observed  the  same  cir- 
cumstance  on  our  Western  Prairies,  but  have  thought  that  they 
were   afterward  obliged  to  separate  into  small  flocks,  or  even 
into  pairs,  as  soon  as  they  are  ready  to  seek  proper  places  for 
breeding  in  ;  for  I  have  seldom  found  more  than  two  pairs  with 
nests  or  young  in  the  same  field  or  piece  of  ground.     On  their 
first  arrival,  they  are  generally  thin,  but  on  their  return  south- 
ward,  in  the  beginning  of  August,  when  they  tarry  in  Louisiana 
until  the  first  of  October,  they  are  fat  and  juicy.  I  have  observed 
that,  m  spring,  when  they  are  poor,  they  are  usually  much  less 
shy  than  in  autumn,  when  they  are  exceedingly  wary  and  diffi- 
cult  of  approach ;  but  this  general  observation  is  not  without 
exceptions,  and  the  diflference,  I  think,  depends  on  the  nature  of 
the  localities  in  which  they  happen  to  be  found  at  either  period    * 
When  on  newly-ploughed  fields,  which  they  are  fond  of  fre- 

VOL.    I,  m. 


i! 


98 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS 


quenting,  they  see  a  person  at  a  greater  distance  than  when  they 
arc  searching  for  food  among  the  slender  grasses  of  the  plains'. 
I  have  also  thought  that  the  size  of  the  Hocks  may  depend  upon 
similar  contingencies  ;  for  this  bird  is  by  no  means  fond  of  the 
society  of  man. 

"  Like  the  Spotted  Sandpiper— To/antt*  Maculariua— they  not 
unfrequently  alight  on  fences,  trees  and  out-houses ;  but,  whe- 
ther in  such  situations  or  on  the  ground,  they  seldom  settle 
without  raising  both  wings  upright  to  their  full  extent,  and  ut- 
tering their  loud,  prolonged  and  pleasing  notes  They  run, with 
great  activity,  stop  suddenly,  and  vibrate  their  body  once  or 
twice. 

"  When  earnestly  followed  by  the  sportsman,  they  lower  their 
heads  in  the  manner  of  Wilson's  Plover,  and  the  species  called 
the  Piping,  and  run  off  rapidly,  or  squat,  according  to  the  urg- 
ency of  the  occasion.  At  other  times,  Jhey  partially  extend 
their  wings,  run  a  few  steps  as  if  about  to  fly,  and  then  cun- 
ningly move  off  sideways,  and  conceal  themselves  among  the 
grass,  or  behind  a  clod.  You  are  unfrequently  rendered  aware 
of  your  being  near  them  by  unexpectedly  hearing  their  plain- 
tive and  mellow  notes,  a  circumstance,  however,  which  I 
always  concluded  to  be  indicative  of  the  wariness  of  their  dis- 
position ;  for,  although  you  have  just  heard  those  well-known 

cries,  yet,  on  searching  for  the  bird  itself,  you  nowhere  see  it 

for  the  cunning  creature  has  slipped  away  and  hid  itself. 
When  wounded  in  the  wing,  they  run  to  a  great  distance,  and 
are  rarely  found. 

"  Like  all  txperienced  travellers,  they  appear  to  accommo- 
date themselves  to  circumstances,  as  regards  their  food — for  in 
Louisiana  they  feed  on  cantharides  and  other  coleopterous  insects  • 
in  Massachusetts  on  grasshoppers,  on  which  my  friend  Nt  t- 
TALL  says   they  soon  grow  fat;   in  the  Carolinas  on   criclets 

and  other  insects,  as  well  as  the  seeds  of  the  crab-gras^ ^wi- 

taria  Sanguinaria — and  in  the  Barrens  of  Kentucky  they  often 
pick  the  strawberries.  Those  which  feed  much  on  cantharides 
require  tc  be  very  carefully  cleaned,  otherwise  persons  eating 


UPLAND    nilOOTINQ, 


M 


hem  „r.  l,.ble  to  .uflir  .cvcrely.     Several  s„„(:e,„on  „f  Ne„ 
,  ea„,  have  e^urej  me  .ha.  .hey  ...ve  .ee„  pcr.o„.  a.  di„„." 

oanno.  well  be  de^r.hed   here.     When  flavorecl  wi.h  Z    i" 
..rawberne.  o„  which  .bey  have  fed,  .heir  „e,h  iMrul;  dell! 

d„r  ^"li'  Tu"  '""''°""''  '"  "''S™«°''»  h  "ight  m  well  a,  by 
<l.y.  I..  <I,gh.  ,,  ralher  ,„if,,  „„d  well  .u..ai,,ed.  While  .r.^ 
velhng,  ..generally  ,|ie,,  »„  high  a,  .„  be  beyond  ,he  rel  „f 
he  gun,  bu.,  ,f  .he  wea.her  b.  cloudy,  or  if|.  blow  la  d  i 
rte,  lower  and  maybe  easily  »h„..  1.  generally  proceed.,  i„ 
«  raggln,g  band,,  and  move»  along  wi.h  co„.i„„.L'  e„,yT  J," 
of  ..,  wngs,  bu.  .ails  «.,  it  were,  when  about  ,o  alight,  L  we 
a»  during  the  love  season.  *"    ' 

"  As   long  .go  as  ISOS  and   1806,  I  oteerved  this  snecies 

Mdlgrove,  near  the  bank,  of  the  Perkioming  Creek.  Since 
then,  I  have  known  of  its  rearing  broods  in  Cerent  part  " 
Pennsylvanra,  ,n  the  S.a.«  of  New  York,  and  in  variou  dis 
r,cu  to  .hef^s.w.rd,  a.  far  as  .be  confine;  of  Maine  bu  ,  dw 
no  find  ,.  ,„  Newfoundland  or  Labrador  ;  and  I  have  reason  o 
bel  eve  thai  ,t  does  not  breed  to  the  south  of  Maryland 

have  found  the  egg,  of  this  bird  laid  on  the  bare  earth   in 
a  ho,  o^,  scooped  ou.  .0  .he  dep.h  of  abou.  an  inch  and  a  ha  f 
„  the  roots  of  a  tuft  of  rank  grass,  in  the  ndddlo  of  a  .el- 
low    and  have  seen  some  nests  of  the  same  specie,  formed  of 
loosely-arranged  grasses,  and  placed  almost  beneath  low  bulV 
growmg  on  poor    eleva.ed  ridge,,  furnished  wi.h  a  .can.y  vege- 
.at,on      When  disturbed  while  on  it,  «,„,  but  unob.,ervL    U 
run,    h,rty  or  forty  yard,,  and  then  flies  off,  a,  if  Zl^eW 
wounded.     Should  it  have  young,  it,  at.emp.;   .0  dec",;  "^ 
away  a„  ,„„e  enough  .0  induce  you  ,0  desi,.  from  dis.rein!; 
.The  egg,  measure  an  inch  and  five  and  a-half  eigh.b,  by  a^ 
mch  and  a  quarter  in  .heir  greatest  breadth,     in  form  they  re! 
,e,nble  .ho,e  of  .he  To,anus  MaculaHus,  being  broadly  ZZ 
a.  one  end  and  ra.her  poin.ed  at  tl«  other ;  their  surface  .,„  o„.t 


i  1 


100 


FRANK    FOHESTEr's    FIEMI    SPOMTS. 


tlipir  ground  color  dull  grayish-yellow,  with  numerous  spots  of 
light  purple  and  i^ddish-brown.  They  are  placed  in  the  nest  in 
the  same  manner  as  t'uose  of  the  Spotted  Sandpiper ;  that  is, 
with  the  snuUler  eufls  together ;  which  ie  also  the  case  with  those 
of  the  Telltale  Godwit,  VVilsoi's  Plover,  and  the  Kildeer  Vio- 
yer.^''— Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

Vnm  these  seven  species,  constituting  the  Upland  Game 
Birds,  proper,  of  the  United  States— for  raisons  which  have 
been  stated  above,  I  prefer  to  consider  the  Wild  Turkey  under 
the  head  of  Western  Sporting— I  come  to  the  two  varieties  of 
Hare— Pteudo  Rabbit,  and  White  Rabbit )  the  true  genera  and 
distinctive  marks  of  which  are  subjoined. 


THE    AMERICAN    HARE. 
Lepus  Americams.     Lepus  Virginianus. 

I  have  already  mentioned,  that  tliere  is  no  variety  of  Rabbit 
found  on  this  continent ;  although,  from  the  smaller  size,  the 
lighter  and  grayer  color  of  its  fur,  and  its  general  resemblance 
to  the  wild  Rabbit  of  Europe,  the  smaller  species— Zcpws  Ame- 
ncanw*— which  "s  found  in  almost  every  part  of  the  United 
States  and  Canad;\,  is  invariably  termed,  and  very  generally  be- 
lieved to  be  a  Rabuit. 

This  misnomer  is  not,  like  the  calling  Grouse  "  Pheasant,  and 
Partridge,"  a  mere  error  in  nomenclature,  used  by  persons  who 
are  well  aware  of  *he  distinction,  and  sometimes  adopt  the 
false  instead  of  the  true  name,  as  it  were  compulsorily,  and  in 
order  to  make  themselves  understood  by  the  ignorant — as  I  "lave 
found  myseif  o'jiiged  to  term  Woodcock  Blind  Snipe,  \n  conver- 
sation with  country  people — but  is  an  absolute  mistake,  which 
is  heM  by  many  sportsmen,  who  will  not  he  convinced  of  the 
contrary. 

Sportsmen  are,  indeed,  but  too  apt  to  undervalue,  and  even 
ridicule,  the  minute  distinctions  of  the  naturalist ;  notundcrstiuul- 
ing  how  so  siimll  differences  as  are  in  soine  questions  alone  dc- 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


101 


c.s.ve  uf  spec.e,  and  genera,  can  be  of  the  weight  ascribed  to 
them  ;  and  will  persist,  even  after  they  are  informed  to  the  con- 
trary, m  supporting  their  own  opinion  against  the  definitions  of 
science  ;  which  is,  in  fact,  not  one  whit  less  ridiculous  than  it 
were  far  any  one  to  dispute  with  the  philosopher  the  earth's 

ail  that  18  taught  by  science. 

The  European  Hare,  it  is  well  known,  is  more  than  double 
h  «.zea„dwe.gbtofthe  American  variety  ;  weighing,  when 
full  grown  rom  six  to  eight  pounds ;  and  measuring'two  feet  in 
length-whde  the  American  congener  is  not  above  eighteen 
inches  long,  at  the  utmost,  and  does  not  weigh  above  two 
pounds.  It  ,s  natural  enough,  therefore,  that  the  European 
sportsman  should  be  inclined  to  doubt  the  fact,  associating  his 
deas  of  the  an.mal  with  the  large  kind  which  he  has  hunted  or 

which  so  very  closely  resembles  the  Rabbit  of  hi«  country  in 
size,  IS  not  a  Rabbit  but  a  Hare. 

In  many  points,  moreover,  connected  with  his  haunts,  habits 
and  history,  the  small  Hare  of  America  resembles  the  Rabbit  of 
the  eastern  continent ;  although  in  others  more  marked,  and  in- 
mdeej^  positively  decisive  of  his  species,  the  two  animals  differ 

The  points  of  similarity  lie  in  this,  that  the  smaller  American 

We    hill  ^l""^'''?'  f^"^^^^'  '^^^^  ^-^^y  -^  '•— ib^ 
wooded  hil-sides;  and,  when  hard  pressed  by  dogs,  will  betake 

.tse  f  to  holes  and  clefts  in  the  rock;   and  that  he^L  the  same 
skulking  habit,  and  much  the  same  motion. 

The  great  difference  is,  that  he  never  dwells  in  vast  congrega- 
tions  or  warrens,  and  never  burrows  in  the  earth  for  his  habi- 
tual dwelhng-place.  This  point,  with  some  others,  of  structure 
and  breeding,  ls  decisive  igainst  his  being  a  Rabbit. 

The  American  Rj^iiE-Lepu,  Americanu3-yu\g.  The  Rabbit. 
"  Length,  from  nose  to  tip  of  hind  daws,  16  inches;  length 


i( 


,  I 


•'    .  ' 


tc 


102 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


13  ) 


of  ears,  3^  ;  of  tail,  2p»2  , 


of  hind  legs,  IOtV  v  ^^  ^ead,  3^ 
weight,  3  to  4lbs. 

"  Ears  shorter  than  the  head.     Forehead  convex.     Claws 
sharp-pointed,   and   nearly   straight.      Upper   anterior   incisors 
white,  with  a  deep,  longitudinal  groover  near  their  iniier  mar- 
gin ;  the  small  incisors  behind  short,  oppressed  to  the  anterior 
incisors,  and   inserted  into  the  upper  maxillary.     First  molar 
above  simple,  recurved;  the  four  succeeding  larger,  and  of 
nearly  equal  size,  composed  of  double  folds  of  enamel ;  the  last 
simple,  cylindrical,  directed  forward,  and  scarcely  attaining  the 
length  of  its  predecessors.     Beneath,  the  incisors  are  smooth,  in 
front  long  and  subquadrate.    The  first  molar  inclined  backward, 
grooved  before,  and  with  a  double  groove  on  the  outer  surface ; 
the  succeeding  ones  to  the  last  upright,  nearly  equal,  with  a  sin- 
gle  groove  and  two  prominent  ridges  on  their  external  surfaces  ; 
the  last  smallest,  inclined  forward,  with  a  slight  groove  on  the 
external  surface,  and  the  tip  exhibits  a  double  case  of  enamel. 
«  Co/or.— In  summer  the  general  color  is  yellowish-brown, 
which  becomes  more  or  less  rufous  on  the  outer  surface  of  the 
extremities  and  on  the  breast.     Margin  of  the  eyes  blackish- 
brown,  and  outside  of  this  a  circle  of  yellowish-white.     Throat 
and  under  side  of  the  tail  white.      Abdomen  grayish-white 
Ears  edged  with  white  and  tipped  with  brown.    Fur  plumbeous, 
lead-colored  at  the  base,  and  for  much  of  its  length.     In  winter 
the  fur  becomes  longer,  and  the  upper  surface  of  the  head  and 
body  lighter,  occasionally  iron-gray ;  but  I  have  never  seen  it  as 
white  as  is  stated  by  Godman.     There  may,  however,  be  whit« 
yarieties ;  but  it  cannot  be  said  to  have  two  distinct  coats  of  fur 
"  The  most  remarkable  distinctions  of  this  species,  by  which 
It  IS  discernible  alike  from  the  Rabbit  and  the  common  Hare  of 
America,  are  as  follows  :— 1st.  His  size,  which  is  much  inferior 
to  that  of  the  common  or  variable  Hare,  and  little  superior  to  that 
of  the  common  wild  Rabbit  of  Europe  ;  whence  he  is  frequently 
confounded  with  the  Rabbit.     2d.  The  proportion  of  his  legs  • 
the  hmd  legs  being  longer,  the  fore  legs  shorter  than  those  of 
the  larger  Hares.     3d.  The  color  and  length  of  the  ears,  which 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


103 


have  a  black  margin  at  the  outside,  and  no  black  mark  at  the 
tip,  and  are  also  shorter  than  those  of  the  common  Hare.  4th. 
The  upper  side  of  the  tail  is  less  black.  5th.  The  body  is 
grayer  than  that  of  the  other  species  of  Hare.  6th.  Its  habits, 
which  are  purely  those  of  a  Hare,  as  distinct  from  those  of  the 
Rabbit. 

"  Unlike  its  congener,  the  Northern  or  Varying  Hare,  it  does 
not  confine  itself  to  the  woods,  but  is  frequently  found  in  open 
fields,  or  where  there  is  a  slight  copse  or  underbrush.  It  never 
burrows,  like  its  closely-allied  species,  the  European  Rabbit,  but 
makes  its  form,  which  is  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground,  shel- 
tered by  some  low  shrub.  It  frequently  resorts  to  a  stone  wall, 
a  heap  of  stones,  or  a  hollow  tree,  and  sometimes  to  the  burrow 
of  some  other  animal.  Its  food  consists  of  bark,  buds,  grass, 
wild  berries,  &c.  Its  habits  are  nocturnal.  It  breeds  three 
times  in  the  season,  producing  from  four  to  six  at  a  birth.  It 
has  not  a  wide  geographical  range,  being  found  from  New 
Hampshire  to  Florida.  Its  western  limits  are  not  yet  ascer- 
tained."—Z)e%'»  Nat.  Hist.  ofN.  York,  &c. 

In  addition  to  this,  I  think  it  well  to  observe,  that  this  is  a 
solitary  animal,  not  gregarious  and  congregating  in  large  com- 
panies, and  not  breeding  monthly,  like  the  European  Rabbit; 
and  that,  so  far  as  my  own  observation  goes,  it  does  not  change 
its  color  in  winter.  Dr.  Dekay  evidently  leans  to  this  latter 
opinion,  in  spite  of  other  authorities,  who  have  evidently  con- 
founded this  with  the  following  species  : 

THE    NORTHERN    HARE. 
Varying  Hare—Lepus  Virginianus.—  Vulgo,  White  Rabbit. 

"  Length  of  head  and  body,  20-25  inches  ;  of  the  hind  legs, 
1 1 A  ;  of  fore  legs,  6/5 ;  of  the  head,  3^ ;  of  the  ears,  3^  ;  of 
the  tail,  lf\;  weight,  GUbs. 

"  Head  short ;  nose  blunt ;  eyes  large  and  prominent ;  ears 
Lroad  and  approximated  ;  upper  anterior  incisors  long  and  slea- 


f  '     h\ 


104 


PRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


»X    t  aiih  'To  '"'  ''■"'"  •  '""''  '»■='-»  wedge-shaped, 
Body  covered  »ith  loose,  .haggy  hair.     Feet  Z^^^ 

or  black  and  while-  a  tuft  of  ,h  !  ""merou,,  black, 

-me  beneath  the  chin  °'  '""  °"'  ""^  '^«'  "»'' 

be 'sdd'th.T'r'"'."'  "■'  """"S^  "-y  '»»-»  °f  ">i.  Hare,  it  may 

f"arrcrsr;':i;-re'r:r-^ 
andd^r:of::;;i7::;,irt?-"'* ""«"'" ''"'" 

forZin  ■^""-"^^^-'   bright   fawn   or  reddish-brown  • 
forehead,  cheeks   and   ears   of  the  same   color-    all    hT  1' 

p;t-r.ret-r:;rtt^r^^ 
coir:  Hrx:t^L::rv:;7H:rz:"r  *" 

it  IS  found  from  Canada  as  far  norjh    ».    u    i      ,    „ 
southerly  to  the  northern  parts  of  Pe„n  'Vania       7        '^' 
of  Virginia;  but  in  the  MiSdle  Sta.LTs  onT/f"' ''T    '''  ''"° 
tainous  and  roughly  wooded  districtl  '     ""''  '"  '"°"°- 

"Its  period  of  gestation  is  about  six  weeks -.it  h..,    r 
four  to  six  young  at  a  litter  '       """'  "•'"" 

for  .ts  moderate  goodness.  "_JDc%',  JYat.  Hist. 


UPLAND   SHOOTTNO. 


105 


With  these  seven  birds  and  two  quadrupeds  I  might  properly 

enough  close  my  enumeration  of  our  Upland  game.    There  are 

however,  six  species  of  Duck,  which  I  have  named  above-THF 

Dusky,  ru/gro^/acA  Duck;  The  Mallard;  The  Blue-winoed 

and  The  Green-winged  Teal  ;  The  Summer,  or  Wood  Duck  ; 

and  The  Pintail  Duck;  all  of  which,  although  water  fowl, 

may  be  regarded  with  great  fitness  as  Upland  game,  since  they 

all  frequent  fresh  lakes,  marshes,  and  streams— are  frequently 

killed  in  swamps  far  inland,  and  many  hundreds  of  miles  above 

tide  water,  and  with  but  one  exception,  are  rarely  met  with  or 

taken,  in  very  great  abundance,  on  the  sea-shores,  or  even  on 

salt  marshes. 

The  Dusky  Duck  is  indeed  a  frequenter  of  the  bays  and  of 
{.oug  Island  Sound  ;  I  have,  however,  shot  him  so  often,  even 
over  dead  points  from  setters,  on  inland  meadows— his  flesh  is 
so  far  superior  when  so  taken,  and  above  all,  he  so  evidently 
prefers  fresh  feeding  grounds,  so  long  as  the  weather  will  per- 
mit—that I  must  regard  him  rather  as  Upland  than  Shore  game. 
The  American  Widgeon,  and  The  Shoveller,  are  so  rare, 
except  on  the  great  western  waters,  which  are  indeed  frequented 
by  almost  every  variety  of  fowl,  excepting  only  a  few  of  the 
purely  Sea  Ducks,  that  it  is  needless  to  do  more  than  name 
them.     The  varieties  of  the  Merganser,  generally  known  as 
Sheldrake,  though   sufficiently   abundant,    I   can   scarce   bring 
myself  to  regard  as  game,  their  flesh  being  so  rank  and  fishy  as 
to  be  scarcely  eatable.     The  six  varieties  above  named,  as  being 
the  most  delicious,  and  in  plumage  the  most  beautiful  of  the 
whole  duck  tribe,  must  not  be  passed  over  so  lightly. 

The  first  of  these  which  I  shall  mention  as  being  worthy 
of  remark  as  the  parent  stock  of  our  domestic  Duck  and  Drake, 
second  in  succulence  and  flavor  to  none  but  the  Canvass  Back 
and  Red-head,  and  superior  to  all  except  the  Wood  Duck  in 
beauty,  is 


106 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


THE   MALLARD. 

Anas  Boschas—le  Canard  Sauvage.—Bnasot.     The  Greenhead. 

"  Male  24.36.     Female  22. 

"  Breeds  from  Texas  sparingly  throughout  the  United  States, 
Columbia  River,  and  Fur  Countries.  Abundant  during  the 
winter  in  all  the  Southern  Districts ;  not  found  in  Maine,  or 
Eastward. 

Adult  male. 

"  Bill  about  the  length  of  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the 
base,  depressed  and  widened  toward  the  end,  rounded  at  the 
tip.  Upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  outline  sloping,  and  4 
little  concave ;  the  ridge  at  the  base  broad  and  flat,  toward  the 
end  broadly  convex,  as  are  the  sides,  the  edges  soft  and  rather 
obtuse ;  the  marginal  lamella  transverse,  fifty  on  each ;  the 
unguis  oval,  curved,  abrupt  at  the  end.  Nasal  groove  elliptical, 
sub-basal,  filled  by  the  soft  membrane  of  the  bill ;  nostrils  sub- 
basal,  placed  near  the  ridge,  longitudinal,  elliptical,  pervious. 
Lower  mandible  slightly  curved  upward,  with  the  angle  very 
long,  narrow,  and  rather  pointed,  the  lamellae  about  sixty. 

"  Head  of  moderate  size,  oblong,  compressed ;  neck  rather 
long  and  slender,  body  full,  depressed.  Feet  short,  stout, 
placed  a  litUe  behind  the  centre  of  the  body.  Legs  bare  a  little 
above  the  joint ;  tarsus  short,  a  little  compressed,  anteriorly 
with  scutella,  laterally  and  behind  with  small  reticulated  scales. 
Hind  toe  extremely  small,  with  a  very  narrow  membrane  j 
third  toe  longest;  fourth  a  little  shorter,  but  longer  than  the 
second  ;  all  the  toes  connected  by  reticulated  membranes,  the 
outer  with  a  thick  margin,  the  inner  with  the  margin  extended 
into  a  slightly  lobed  web.  Claws  small,  arched,  compressed, 
rather  acute  ;  that  of  the  middle  toe  much  larger,  with  a  dilated' 
thin  inner  edge. 

"  Plumage,  dense,  soft,  elastic  ;  of  the  head  and  neck,  short, 
blended,  and  splendent.     Of  the  other  parts  in  general,  broad' 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


107 


011(1  rounded.  Wings  of  moderate  length,  acute;  primaries 
narrow  and  tapering ;  the  second  longest,  the  first  very  little 
sliorter  ;  secondaries  broad,  curved  inv»rard,  the  inner  elongated 
and  tapering.  Tail  short,  much  rounded,  of  sixteen  acute  fea- 
thers, of  which  the  four  central  are  recurved. 

"  Bill  greenish-yellow.  Iris  dark  brown.  Feet  orange-red. 
Head  and  upper  part  of  neck  deep  green,  a  ring  of  white  about 
the  middle  of  the  neck ;  lower  part  anteriorly,  and  fore  part  of 
breast  dark  brownish-chestnut;  fore  part  of  back  light  yellowish- 
brown,  tinged  with  gray  ;  the  rest  of  the  back  brownish-black ; 
the  rump  black,  splendent  with  green  and  purplish-blue  reflec- 
tions, as  are  the  recurved  tail  feathers.  Upper  surface  of  wlngo 
grayish-brow.i ;  the  scapulars  lighter,  except  their  inner  webs, 
and  with  the  anterior  dorsal  feathers  minutely  undulated  with 
brown.  The  speculum,  or  beauty  spot,  on  about  ten  of  the 
secondaries,  is  of  brilliant  changing  purple  and  green,  edged 
with  velvet-black  and  white,  the  anterior  bands  of  black  and 
white  being  on  the  secondary  coverts.  Breast,  sides,  and 
abdomen,  very  pale  gray,  minutely  undulated  with  darker  j 
lower  tail  coverts  black,  with  blue  reflections. 

"  Length  to  the  end  of  tail,  24  inches  ;  to  the  end  of  the  claws, 
23 ;  to  the  tips  of  the  wings,  22  ;  extent  of  wings,  36  ;  wing 
from  flexure,  10^;  tail,  4^;  bill,  2^ ;  tarsus,  ij;  middle  toe, 
2r\ ;  its  claw  i%;  weight,  from  2^  to  3lbs. 
"  Adult  female. 

"  Bill  black  in  the  middle,  dull  orange  at  the  extremities  and 
along  the  edges.     Iris  as  in  the  male,  as  are  the  feet.     The 
general  color   of   the    upper  parts   is   pale  yellowish-brown, 
streaked  and  spotted  with  dusky  brown.     The  feathers  of  the 
head  are  narrowly  streaked,  of  the  ba-k  with  the  margin  and  a 
central  streak  yellowish-brown,  the  rest  of  the  scapulars  similar 
but  with  the  light  streak  on  the  outer  web.     The  wings  are 
nearly  as  in  the  male ;    the  speculum  similar,  but  with   less 
frreen.     The  lower  parts  dull  olive,  deeper  on  the  lower  neck 
and  spotted  with  brown. 
"  Length,  22  inches  ;  weight,  from  2lbs.  to  2^. 


ilgil 


108 


rnANK    F0nE8TEK'«   FIELD   8I>0nTS. 


t(  nn 


The  young  acquire  the  full  plumage  in  the  course  of  the 
first  yfmier."—Audubm'$  Birds  of  America. 

«  The  common  Wild  Duck  is  found  in  every  fresh  water 
«ke  and  r.ver  of  the  United  States,  in  winter,  spring,  or  au- 
tumn,  but  seldom  frequents  the  sea  shore  or  salt  marshes.  Their 
summer  residence  is  the  North,  the  great  nursery  of  this  nume- 
rous  genus.     Instances  have  been  known  of  some  solitary  pairs 
breed.ng  here  in  autumn  ;  in  England  these  instances  are  more 
common.     Ihe   nest   is    usually   placed   in   the  most    solitary 
recesses  of  the  marsh  or  bog,  amidst  coarse  grass,  reeds;  and 
rushes;  and  generally  contains  from  twelve  to  sixteen  eggs,  of 
a  dull  greenish-white.     The  young  are  led  about  by  the  mother 
m  the  same  manner  as  those  of  the  tame  Duck,  but  with  a 
superior  caution,  cunning,  and  watchful  vigilance,  peculiar  to 
her  situation. 

"  The  male  attaches  himself  to  one  female,  as  among  other 
birds  ,„  U.e.r   native  state,  and  is  the  guardian  and  protector 
of  her  and  her  feeble  brood.     The  Mallard  is  numerous  in  the 
nee  fields  of  the  Southern  States  during  winter ;  many  of  the 
fields   being  covered   with  a  few  inches   of  water,   and   the 
oattered  grams  of  the  former  harvest  lying  in  abundance,  the 
Ducks  sw.m  about  and  feed  at  pleasure.  The  flesh  of  the  common 
Wild  Duck  IS  in  general  and  high  estimation,  and  the  ingenuity 
of  man,  in  every  country  where  it  frequents,  has  been  employed 
•n  .nventing  stratagems  to  overreach  these  wary  birds,  and  pro- 
cure a  delicacy  for  the  table.     To  enumerate  all  these  various 
contrivances  would  far  exceed  our  limits ;  a  few,  however,  of 
the  most  simple  and    efl-ective  may  be   mentioned.     In    some 
ponds  frequented  by  these  birds,  five  or  six  wooden  figures 
are  painted  so  as  to  represent  ducks,  and  sunk  by  pieces  of  lead 
na, led  on  the  bottoms,  so  as  to  float  at  the  usual  depth  on  the 
surface,  are  anchored  in  a  favorable  position  for  being   raked 
from  a  concealment  of  brush,  etc.,  on  shore.     The  appearance 
of    hese  usually  attracts  passing  flocks,  which  alight,  and  are 
shot  dow..    Sometimes  eight  or  ten  of  these  painte    woode. 


UPLAND   8H00TIN0. 


109 


durks  are  fixed  on  a  frame,  in  various  swimming  postures,  and 
secured  to  the  bow  of  the  gunner's  skiff,  projecting  before  it  in 
such  a  manner  that  the  weight  of  the  frame  sinks  the  figures  to 
the  proper  depth  ;  the  skiflis  then  dressed  with  sedge  or  coarse 
grass,  in  an  artful  manner,  as  low  as  the  water's  edge,  and  under 
cover  of  this,  which  appears  like  a  party  of  Ducks  swimming 
by  a  small  island,  the  gunner  floats  down,  sometimes  to  the  very 
skirts  of  a  whole  congregated  multitude,  and  pours  in  a  destruc- 
tive and  repeated  fire  of  shot  among  them. 

"In  winter,  when  detached  pieces  of  ice  are  occasionally 
floating  in  the  river,  some  of  the  gunners  on  the  Delaware  paint 
their  whole  skiff,  or  canoe,  white ;  and  laying  themselves  flat 
at  the  bottom,  with  the  hand  on  the  side,  silently  managing  a 
small  paddle,  direct  it  imperceptibly  into  or  near  a  flock,  before 
the  Ducks  have  distinguished  it  from  a  floating  mass  of  ice,  and 
generally  do  great  execution  among  them.  A  whole  flock  has 
sometimes  been  thus  surprised  asleep,  with  their  heads  under 
their  wings. 

"  On  land,  another  stratagem  is  sometimes  practised  with  great 
success.  A  large,  tight  hogshead  is  sunk  in  the  flat  marsh  or 
mud,  near  the  place  where  Ducks  are  accustomed  to  feed  at 
low  water,  and  where,  )therwise,  there  is  no  shelter ;  the  edges 
and  top  are  carefully  concealed  with  tufts  of  long,  coarse  grass, 
and  reeds  or  sedges.  From  within  this,  the  gunner,  unseen 
and  unsuspected,  watches  his  collecting  prey  ;  and  when  a  suf- 
ficient number  offers,  sweeps  them  down  with  great  effect. 

"  The  mode  of  catching  Wild  Ducks,  as  practised  in  India 
and  China,  the  island  of  Ceylon,  and  some  parts  of  South  Ameri- 
ca, has  been  often  described,  and  seems,  if  reliance  may  be 
placed  on  those  accounts,  only  practicable  in  water  of  a  certain 
depth.  The  sportsman,  covering  his  head  with  a  hollow  wooden 
vessel  or  calabash,  pierced  with  holes  to  see  through,  wades 
into  the  water,  keeping  his  head  only  above,  and  thus  dis- 
guised, moves  in  among  the  flock,  which  takes  the  appearance  to 
be  a  mere  floating  calabash,  while  suddenly  pulling  them  under 
by  the  legs,  he  fastens  them  to  his  girdle,  and  thus  takes  as 


110 


FUANK    FORESTEE  S   FIELD   SPORTS. 


many  as  he  can  conveniently  stow  away,  without  in  the  least 
alarming  the  rest.  They  are  also  taken  with  snares  made  of 
horsehair,  or  with  hooks  baited  with  small  pieces  of  sheep's 
lights,  which,  floating  on  the  surface,  are  swallowed  by  the 
Ducks,  and  with  them  the  hooks.  They  are  also  approached 
under  cover  of  a  stalking  horse,  or  a  figure  formed  of  thin 
boards,  or  other  proper  materials,  and  painted  so  as  to  represent 
a  horse  or  an  ox. 

"  But  all  these  methods  require  much  watching,  toil,  and 
fatigue ;  and  their  success  is  but  trifling  when  compared  with 
that  of  the  decoys  now  used  both  in  France  and  England ; 
which,  from  its  superiority  over  every  other  mode,  is  well  de- 
serving the  attention  of  persons  of  this  country  residing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  extensive  marshes  frequented  by  Wild  Ducks 
«i8  by  this  method  Mallard  and  other  kind,  may  be  taken  by 
thousands  at  a  time."-  Wilson's  Am.  Ornithology. 

Next  in  size,  though  neither  in  beauty  nor  in  excellence,  to 
the  Mallard,  comes  the  Dusky  Duck,  better  known  in  every 
part  of  the  United  States  as  the  Black  Duck,  the  latter  being  a 
misnomer  as  applied  to  this  fowl,  and  really  belonging  to  a  very  • 
different  bird,  which  will  be  treated  of  hereafter  with  the  Sea 
Hxxck^-Fuligul^B.  This  bird,  unlike  the  former  species,  which 
IS  common  to  both  continents,  Europe  and  America,  if  not  to 
Africa  and  Asia  also,  is  peculiar  to  North  America,  rangine 
from  Labrador  to  Texas;  in  both  of  which,  strange  to  say 
and  in  all  the  intermediate  localities,  it  breeds  and  rears  its 
young. 


THE    DUSKY    DUCK. 
Anas  Ohscuror-WUson,  Bonap.     The  Black  Duck. 


<( 


'Breeds  in   Texas,  westward,  and  throughout   the  United 
States,    British    Provinces,   Labrador,   and    Columbia    River. 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


Ill 


Common  in  autumn  and  spring  along  the  middle  Atlantic  dis- 
tricts.    Abundant  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States  in  winter. 

"  Adult  male. 

**■  Bill  about  the  length  of  the  head,  higher  than  broad  at  the 
base,  depressed  and  widened  toward  the  end,  rounded  at  the 
tip.  Upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  line  sloping  and  a  little 
concave,  the  ridge  at  the  base  broad  and  flat,  toward  the  end 
broadly  convex,  as  are  the  sides ;  the  edges  soft  and  thin,  the 
marginal  lamellee  about  forty  on  each  side.  The  unguis  obovate, 
curved,  abrupt  at  the  end.  Nasal  groove  sub-basal,  elliptical, 
filled  with  the  soft  membrane  of  the  bill ;  nostrils  sub-basal, 
placed  near  the  ridge,  longitudinal,  elliptical,  pervious.  Lower 
mandible  slightly  curved  upward,  flattened,  with  the  angle  very 
long,  narrow,  and  rather  pointed  ;  the  lamellse  about  sixty. 

"  Head  of  moderate  size,  oblong,  compressed.  Neck  lather 
long  and  slender.  Body  full,  depressed.  Feet  short,  stout, 
placed  a  little  behind  the  centre  of  the  body.  Legs  bare  a  little 
above  the  joint.  Tarsus  short,  a  little  compressed,  anteriorly 
with  small  scutella,  externally  of  which  is  a  series  continuous 
with  those  of  the  outer  toe,  laterally  and  behind  with  reticulated 
angular  scales.  Hind  toe  extremely  small,  with  a  very  narrow 
membrane  ;  third  toe  longest,  fourth  a  little  shorter,  but  longer 
than  the  second ;  the  scutella  of  the  second  and  third  oblique, 
of  the  outer  transverse ;  the  three  anterior  toes  connected  by 
reticulated  membranes,  the  outer  with  a  thick  margin,  the  inner 
with  a  margin  extended  into  a  slightly  lobed  web.  Claws  small, 
arched,  compressed,  rather  obtuse,  that  of  the  middle  toe  much 
larger,  with  a  dilated  thin  edge. 

"  Plumage  dense,  soft,  elastic  ;  on  the  neck  and  head  the  fea- 
thers linear-oblong,  on  the  other  parts,  broad  and  rounded. 
Wings  of  moderate  breadth  and  length,  acute  ;  primaries  narrow 
and  tapering,  the  second  longest,  the  first  very  little  shorter ; 
secondaries  broad,  curved  inward  ;  the  inner  elongated  and  taper- 
ing. Tail  short,  much  rounded,  of  eighteen  acute  feathers,  none 
of  which  are  recurved. 
*'  Bill  yellowish-green,  the  unguis  dusky.     Iris  dark  brown. 


f  i 


'* 


..jMMtMii'- 


iia 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Feet  oronge-re<l,  the  webs  dusky.     The  upper  part  of  the  Head 
18   glossy   brownish-black,    the   feathers   margined   with    ligl.t 
brown  ;  the  sides  of  the  head  and  a  band  over  the  eye  are  light 
grayish-brown,  with  longitudinal  dusky  streaks  ;  the  middle  of 
the  neck  is  similar,  but   more  dusky.     The  general  color  is 
blackisb-brown,  a  little  paler  beneath ;  all  the  feathers  margined 
with  pale,  reddish-brown.    The  wing  coverts  are  grayish  dusky, 
w.th  a  slight  tinge  of  green  ;  the  ends  of  the  secondary  coverts' 
velvet-black.     Primaries  and  their  coverts  blackish-brown,  with 
the  shafts  brown ;  secondaries  darker ;  the  speculum  is  green, 
blue,  violet,  or  amethyst-purple,  according  to  the  light  in  which 
it  IS  viewed,  bounded  by  velvet-black  ;  the  feathers  also  tipped 
with  a  narrow  line  of  white.     The  whole  under  surface  of  the 
wing  and  the  axillaries,  white. 

"  Length  to  the  end  of  tail,  24^  inches  ;  to  the  end  of  claws 
26  ;  extent  of  wings,  38j  ;  bill,  2A  along  the  back  ;  wing  from' 
flexure,  lU;  tail,4T^;  tarsus,  UJ;  middle  toe,  2/j ;   first  toe, 
,5  ;  Us  claw,  1^  ;  weight,  31bs. 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female,  which  is  somewhat  smaller,  resembles  the  male 
m  color,  but  is  more  brown,  and  has  the  speculum  of  the  same 
tints,  but  without  the  white  terminal  line. 

'^'Length  to  the  end  of  tail,  22  inches;  to  the  end  of  wings, 
2U  ;  to  the  end  of  claws,  22  ;  wing  from  flexure,  10^  ;  extent 
of  wings,  34J  ;  tarsus,  2  ;  middle  toe  and  claw,  2i  ;  hind  toe  and 
claw,  T^. 

"  This  species  extends  its  migrations  from  the  Straits  of  Belle- 
isle,  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  to  Texas.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem,  it  breeds  in  both  of  these  countries,  and  i..  .  .n,.y  of  the 
intermediate  places.  On  the  10th  of  May,  18?n  I  'lud  it 
breeding  along  the  marshy  edges  of  the  inland  p.o..,  near  the 
Bay  of  Fundy ;  and  on  Whitehead  Island,  in  the  same  bay,  saw 
several  young  birds  of  the  same  species,  which,  although  appa- 
rently not  a  week  old,  Avere  extremely  active,  both  on  land  and 
waver  On  the  30th  of  April,  1837,  my  son  discovered  a  nest 
on  V  ulves-on  Island,  in  Texas.     It  was  formed  of  grass  and 


UPLAND    SIIOOTINO. 


113 


feathers  :  the 


eight 


former 


number,  lying  on 
.mnded  with  the  down  and  some  feathers  of  the  bird  to  the 
height  of  about  three  inches.     The  internal  diameter  of  the  nest 
was  about  six  inches,  and  its  walls  were  nearly  three  in  thick- 
ness.    The  female  was  sitting,  but  flew  off  in  silence  as  he  ap- 
proached.     The  situation  was  a  clump  of  tall,  slender  gniNs,  on 
a  vuther  sandy  ridge,  more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  the  near- 
est wnter,  but  surrounded  by  partially  dried  salt  marshes.     On 
the  same  island,  in  the  course  of  several  successive  days,  we 
saw  many  of  these  Ducks,  which,  by  their  actions,  showed  that 
they  also  had  nests.     I  may  here  state  my  belief,  that  the  Gad- 
wall,  Blue-winged  Teal,  Green-winged  Teal,  American  Widgeon 
and  Spoon-billed  Duck,  all  breed  in  that  country,  as  I  observed 
them  there  late  in  May,  when  they  were  evidently  paired.  How 
far  this  fact  may  harmonize  with  the  theories  of  writers  respect- 
ing the  migration  of  birds  in  general,  is  more  than  I  can  at  pre- 
sent stop  to  consider.     I  have  found  the  Black  Ducks  breeding 
on  lakes  near  the  Mississippi,  as  far  up  as  to  its  confluence  with 
the  Ohio,  as  well  as  in   Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey ;   and 
every  one  acquainted  with  its  habits  will  tell  you  that  it  rears 
its  young  in  all  the  Eastern  States  intervening  between  that  last 
mentioned  and  the  St.  Lawrence.     It  is  even  found  on  the  Co- 
lumbia River,  and  on  the  streams  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  ;  but 
as  Dr.  Richardson  has  not  mentioned  his  having  observed  it  in 
Hudson's  Bay,  or  farther  north,  we  may  suppose  that  it  does  not 
visit  those  countries. 

"  As  many  of  the  nests  found  in  Labrador  differed  from  the 
one  mentioned  above,  I  will  give  you  an  account  of  them  :— In 
several  instances,  we  found  them  imbedded  in  the  deep  moss,  at 
the  distance  of  a  few  feet,  or  a  few  yards  from  the  water  ;  they 
were  composed  of  a  great  quantity  of  dry  grass  and  other  vege- 
table substances  ;  and  the  eggs  were  always  placed  directly  on 
this  bed,  without  the  intervention  of  the  down  and  feathers 
which,  however,  surrounded  them,  and  which,  as  I  observed,' 
the  bird  always  uses  to  cover  them,  when  she  is  about  to  leave 
them  for  a  time.     The  eggs  are  two  inches  and  a  quarter  in 


I  J' 


VOL.  I. 


8 


114 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SP0RT3. 


length,  one  inch  and  five-eighths  in  breadth,  shaped  like  those 
of  a  domestic  fowl,  with  a  smooth  surface,  and  of  a  uniform 
yellowish-white  color,  like  that  of  ivory  tarnished  by  long  ex- 
posure. The  young,  like  those  of  the  Mallard,  acquire  the  full 
beauty  of  their  spring  plumage  before  the  season  of  reproduction 
commences,  but  exhibit  none  of  the  curious  changes  which  that 
species  undergo. 

"  Although  the  Dusky  Duck  is  often  seen  on  salt  water  bays 
o."  inlets,  it  resembles  the  Mallard  in  its  habits,  being  fond  of 
swampy  marshes,  rice  fields,  and  the  shady  margins  of  our  riv- 
ers, during  the  whole  of  its  stay  in  such  portions  of  the  Southern 
Staves  as  it  is  known  to  breed  in.  They  are  equally  voracious, 
and  may  so?--Hmes  be  seen  with  their  crops  so  protruded  as  to 
destroy  the  natural  elegance  of  their  form.  When  on  the  water, 
they  obtain  their  food  by  immersing  then  head  .tnd  neck  in  the 
water,  and,  like  the  Mallara,  sift  the  produce  of  muddy  pools. 
Like  that  species  also,  ♦hey  will  descend  in  a  spiral  manner  from 
on  high,  to  alight  under  an  oak  or  a  beech,  where  they  have  dis- 
covered the  mast  to  be  abundant. 

"  The  flight  of  this  Duck  is  powerful,  rapid,  and  as  sustained 
as  that  of  the  Mallard.     While  travelling  by  day,  they  may  be 
distinguished  from  that  species  by  the  whiteness  of  their  lower 
wing-coverts,  which  form  a  strong  contrast  to  the  deep  tints  of 
the  rest  of  the  plumage.     Their  progress  through  the  air,  when 
at  full  speed,  must,  I  think,  be  at  the  rate  of  more  than  a  mile 
in  a  minute,  or  about  seventy  miles  an  hour.     When  about  to 
alight,  they  descend  with    double  rapidity,   causing  a  strong, 
rustling  sound  by  the  weight  of  their  compact  bodies  and  the 
rapid  movements  of  their  pointed  wingF      When  alarmed  by  a 
shot  or  otherwise,  they  rise  off  their  feet  by  a  powerful  single 
spring,  fly  directly  upwards  for  eight  or  ten  yards,  and  then  pro- 
ceed in  a  straight  line. 

"  The  Black  Ducks  generally  appear  in  the  Sound  of  Long 
Island  in  September  or  October,  but,  in  very  cold  weather,  pro- 
ceed Southward ;  while  those  which  breed  in  Texas,  as  I  have 
been  informed,  remain  there  all  the  year.     At  their  arrival  they 


UPLAND   SHOOXmO. 


115 


?at  tin  r     7  I"  '^"  '^'^'-"^^^^  P^'*^^'  ^^^  -•">  become 
covl ,     ^7'       '^  '^''"'"*  '^"°S '  b^*  ^h«»  ^«  ponds  are 
covered  w.th  ice  they  betake  themselves  to  estuaries  or  inlets 
o    the  sea,  and  their  flesh  becomes  less  juicy,  and  assumes  a 
fishy  flavor.     Durmg  continued  frost,  they  collect  into  larger 
bod.es  than  at  any  other  time-a  flock  once  alighted  seeming  to 
attract  others   until  at  last  hundreds  of  them  meet,  especially  in 
he  dawn  and  toward  sunset.     The  larger  the  flock,  however, 
the  more  difficult  it  is  to  approach  it,  for  many  sentinels  are  seen 
on  the  lookout,  while  the  rest  are  asleep  or  feeuing  along  the 
shores.     Unhke  the  Sea  Ducks,  this  species  does  not  ride  at  an- 
chor,  as  It  were,  during  its  hours  of  repose.  "_^„d«6o„'.  Bird, 
of  America. 


THE    BtUE-WlNGED    TEAL. 
Anaa  Discors. 
"  Male,  16.3U.     Female,  15.24. 
JL^rt  t  I"""'  '"'^  "^'^'"^^^'  ^''^'  ^-^-^^  Fur  Coun- 

the  M  ddle  Atlantic  Districts,  as  well  as  in  the  interior.    Abun- 
dant  also  m  all  the  Southern  States. 

"  Adult  Male. 

"Bill  almost  as  long  as  the  head,  deeper  than  broad  at  the 

Whole   length,  being,   however,   a   little   enlarged  toward  the 
rounded  tip.     U,,er  mandible  with  the  dorsaf  outline       firs 
slopmg,  then  nearly  straight,  on  the.unguis  decurved,  the  rid  Je 
broad  and  flat  at  the  base,  suddenly  narrowed  over  the  ns  tr  Is 
bn>ader  and  convex  toward  the  end  ;  the  sides  erect  at  the  b  se 

tr.U.r'.  "'  ""^^^'  '""^  —membranous  m  r-' 
gms  a  litde  broader  at  the  end.     Nostrils  sub-basal,  near  the 
ndge  rather  small,  elliptical,  pervious.     Lower  man  ibe  flat 
toned,  straight,  with  the  angle  very  long  and  rather  narrow,  the 


116 


PRANK    rOHESTER's   HELD  SPORTS. 


dorsal  line  very  short  and  slightly  convex,  the  sides  internally 
er^ct,  with  about  a  hundred  and  twenty  lamellje. 

"Head  of  a  moderate  size,  oblong,  compressed.     Neck  of 
moderate  length,  rather  slender.     Body  full,  depressed.     Feet 
short,  placed  rather  far  back.     Tarsus  short,  compressed  at  its 
lower  part,  anteriorly  with  two  series  of  scutella,  the  rest  cov- 
ered with  reticuuited  angular  scales.     Toes  with  numerous  scu- 
tella  above     First  toe  very  small,  and  with  a  narrow  membrane 
beneath;    third   longest;    fourth   about   a   quarter  of  an   inch 
shorter  ;  the  anterior  toes  united  by  reticulated  webs,  of  which 
the  outer  is  deeply  sinuate.     Claws  small,  curved,  compressed, 
acu  e  ;  the  hmd  one  smaller  and  more  curved,  that  of  the  third 
toe  largest,  and  with  the  inner  margin  sharp. 

"  Plumage  dense,  soft  and  blended.  Feathers  of  the  head  and 
neck  very  small  and  slender-of  the  back  and  lower  parts  in 
general,  broad  and  rounded.  Wings  of  moderate  length,  rather 
narrow  and  acute;  primaries  strong,  slightly  curvedftaiering  ; 
the  first  scarcely  longer  than  the  second,  the  rest  rapidly  de- 
creasing;  secondaries  broad,  the  outer  obliquely  rounded,  the 
mner  elongated  and  acuminate,  as  are  the  scapulars.  Tail 
short  rounded  and  acuminate,  of  fourteen  rather  narrow  acumi- 
nate feathers. 

"BUI  bluish-black.  Iris  dark  hazel.  Feet  dull  yellow  • 
webs  dusky.  Claws  brownish-black,  witii  the  tips  grayish-yoi: 
low  Upper  part  of  the  head  black  ;  a  semilunar  patch  of  pure 
white  on  the  side  of  the  head  before  the  eye,  margined  before 
and  be  ind  with  black.  The  rest  of  the  hL',  and  the  anteri" 
parts  of  the  neck,  of  a  deep  purplish-blue,  with  purplish-red  re- 

blaTV  1  r  ""'  ""'  '^"^  '"^^-^^'^^^  «f  back  brownish- 
black,  glossed  w.th  green,  each  feather  with  a  curved  band  of 
pale  re  dish-bufT,  and  a  line  or  band  of  the  same  in  the  cltr 
th  hmd  part  of  the  back  greenish-brown,  the  feathers  edged 
with  paler.  1  he  smaller  wing-coverts  of  a  rich  ultra-marine 
blue,  silky,  with  almost  metallic  lustre.  Alula,  primary  coverts 
and  primary  quills,  grayish-brown,  edged  with  pale  bluish  • 
outer  secondaries  of  the  same  color,  those  of  the  speculum  duck- 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


117 


green,  changing  to  blue  and  bronze,  with  a  narrow  line  of  white 
along  their  terminal  margin ;  the  inner  greenish-black  on  the 
outer  web,  greenish-brown  on  the  inner,  with  a  central  line  and 
narrow  external  margin  of  pale  reddish-bufF;  the  more  elongated 
scapulars  similar,  but  some  of  them  margined  with  greenish- 
blue.     Secondary  coverts  brown,  with  their  terminal  portion 
white.     Tail  feathers   chocolate-brown,   slightly  glossed  with 
green  ;  their  margins  bufFy.     The  lower  parts  are  pale  reddish- 
orange,  shaded   on   the   breast  with  purplish-red,  and  thickly 
spotted  with  black,  the  number  of  roundish  or  elliptical  spots  op 
each  feather  varying  from  ten  to  twenty-five  ;  those  on  the  upper 
and  hind  parts  of  the  sides  running  into  transverse  bars.     Axil- 
lary feathers,  some  of  the  lower  wing-coverts,  and  a  patch  on  the 
side  of  the  rump,  pure  white  ;  lower  tail  coverts  brownish-black. 
"  Length  to  end  of  tail,  16  inches  ;  to  end  of  claws,  14^;  to 
end  of  wings,  14|;   extent  of  wings,  3U  ;   wing  from  flexure, 
7tV  ;  tail,  3/2  ;  bill  along  the  back,  IJ  ;  from  frontal  process  to 
tip,  U ;   tarsus,   Ij? ;  first  toe  and  claw,  ^3 ;  middle  toe  and 
claw.  111 ;  outer  toe  and  claw,  lr%  ;  weight,  12|oz. 
"  Adult  Female. 

"  Bill  greenish-dusky.     Iris  hazel.     Feet  of  a  duller  yellow 
than  those  of  female  ;  the  head  and  neck  are  pale,  dull  buff",  lon- 
gitudinally marked  with  brownish-black  lines,  which  are  broader 
and  darker  on  the  top  of  the  head  ;  the  fore-parts  of  the  cheek 
and  the  throat  whitish,  without  markings.     The  upper  parts  are 
dark  brown,  the  feathers  margined  with  brownish-white.     The 
smaller  wing-coverts  colored  as  in  the  male,  but  less  brilliantly ; 
no  blue  on  the  scapulars,  which  are  also  less  elongated.    On  the 
lower  parts,  the  feathers  are  dusky-brown,  broadly  margined 
with  light  brownish-gray,  of  which  there  is  a  streak  or  spot  in 
the  centre.     The  axillary  feathers,  and  some  of  the  lower  wing- 
coverts  are  white,  but  the  patch  of  that  color,  so  conspicuous  in 
the  male,  is  wanting. 

"Length  to  end  of  tail,  15  inches  ;  to  end  of  wings,  14^; 
to  end  of  claws,  15^  ;  extent  of  wings,  24 ;  wing  from  flexure, 
7| ;  tail,  2i^'^  bill  along  the  ridge,  2/2  ;  weight,  lO^oz. 


</) 


'\  T 


i 


118 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


"The  young  birds  are  similar  to  the  female,  but  paler,  and 
without  the  speculum."— ^ttrfaion'*  Birds  of  America. 

"  The  Blue-Winoed  Teal  is  the  first  of  its  tribe  that  returns 
to  us  m  the  autumn  from  its  breeding-place  in  the  North.  They 
are  usually  seen  early  in  September  along  the  shores  of  the  Dela- 
ware, where  they  sit  on  the  mud,  close  to  the  edge  of  the  water, 
so  crowded  together,  that  the  gunners  often  kill  great  numbers 
at  a  single  discharge.     When  a  flock  is  discovered  thus  sitting 
and  sunning  themselves,  the  experienced  gunner  runs  his  bateau 
ashore  at  some  distance  aoove  or  below  them,  and,  getting -out, 
pushes  her  before  him  over  the  slippery  mud,  concealing  him- 
self all  the  while  behind  her.    By  this  method  he  can  sometimes 
approach  within  twenty  yards  of  the  flock,  among  which  he 
generally  makes  great  slaughter.     They  fly  rapidly,  and  when 
they  alight,  drop  down  suddenly,  like  the  Snipe  or  Woodcock, 
among  the  reeds  or  on  the  mud.     They  feed  chiefly  on  vegeta- 
ble food,  and  are  eagerly  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  reeds  or  wild 
oats.     Their  flesh  is  excellent,  and  after  their  residence  for  a 
short  time  among  the  reeds,  they  become  very  fat.     As  the  first 
frosts  come  on,  they  proceed  to  the  South,  being  a  delicate  bird, 
very  susceptible  of  cold.  They  abound  in  the  inundated  rice  fields 
of  the  Southern  States,  where  vast  numbers  are  taken  in  traps, 
placed  on  small  dry  eminences,  that  here  and  there  rise  above 
the  water.     These  places  are  strewed  with  rice,  and   by  the 
common  contrivance  called  a  figure  Jour  they  are  caught  alive 
n  hollow  traps,      n  the  month  of  April  they  pass  through  Penn- 
sylvania for  the  North,  but  make  little  stay  at  that  season.     I 
have  observed  them  numerous  on  the  Hudson,  opposite  to  the 
Ka  skill  Mountains.     They  rarely  visit  the  sea  shore  "-^7- 
souPs  Am.  Ornithology. 

The  Blue-Winged  Teal  is  stated  to  be  very  easily  tanked,  and 

Wood  n  V"  ""'"""'    '' ''  ^*^^"S«  ^^^*  ^his  bird  .J  the 
Wood  Duck  are  not  both  domesticated. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING.  119 


THE   GREEN-WINGED   TEAL. 
Anas  Crecca,  sive,  Carolinensis. 

"  Male,  14?.24.     Female,  13^22i 

"  Dispersed  throughout  the  country  during  autumn  and  spring. 
Extremely  abundant  during  winter  in  all  the  Southern  States 
and  Texas.  Breeds  sparingly  along  the  Great  Lakes,  and  far 
North. 

"  Adult  Male. 

"  Bill  almost  as  long  as  the  head,  deeper  than  broad  at  the 
base,  depressed  toward  the  end,  its  breadth  nearly  equal  in  its 
whole  length,  being,  however,  a  little  enlarged  toward  the 
rounded  tip.  Upper  mandible  with  the  dorsal  line  at  first  slop- 
ing, then  concave,  toward  the  ends  nearly  straight,  the  ridge 
broad  and  flat  at  the  base,  then  broadly  convex,  the  sides  con- 
vex, the  edges  soft,  with  about  fifty-five  lamellae.  Nostrils 
sub-basal,  near  the  ridge  rather  small,  elliptical,  pervious. 
Lower  mandible  flattish,  with  the  angle  very  long  and  rather 
narrow.  The  dorsal  line  very  short,  straight,  the  sides  perpen- 
dicular, with  about  a  hundred  and  thirty  lamellcE. 

"  Head  of  moderate  size,  compressed.  Neck  of  moderate 
length,  rather  slender.  Body  full,  depressed.  Wings  rather 
small.  Feet  short,  placed  rather  far  back.  Tarsus  short,  com- 
pressed at  its  lower  part,  anteriorly  with  two  series  of  scutella, 
the  rest  covered  with  reticulated  angular  scales.  Toes  scutel- 
late  above  ;  first  toe  very  small,  free,  with  a  narrow  membrane 
beneath  ;  third  longest,  fourth  a  little  shorter  ;  the  anterior  toes 
connected  by  reticulated  webs,  of  which  the  outer  is  deeply  si- 
nuate. Claws  small,  curved,  compressed,  acute ;  the  hind  one 
smaller  and  more  curved  ;  that  of  the  third  toe  largest,  and  with 
an  inner  sharp  edge. 

"  Plumage  dense,  soft,  blended.  Feathers  of  the  middle  of 
the  head  and  upper  part  of  hind  neck  very  narrow,  elongated, 
with  soft,  filamentous,  disunited  bands  ;  of  the  rest  of  the  head 


?     I' 


* 


Hi  i 


120 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


and  upper  parts  of  neck  very  short;  of  the  back  and  lo;,er 
parts  ,n  general,  broad  and  rounded.    Wings  of  moderate  length 
narrow,  acute.      Primaries  strong,  curved,   tapering;    second' 
longest;  first  scarcely  shorter ;  secondaries  broad,  rather  point- 
ed,  the  mner  elongated  and  tapering,  as  are  the  scapulars.    Tail 
short  rounded  and  acuminate,  of  sixteen  acuminate  feathers. 

Bill  black.  Iris  brown.  Feet  light  bluish-gray.  Head  and 
upper  part  of  the  neck  chestnut-brown  ;  a  broad'iand  narrow  „. 
backward  from  thfi  eye  down  the  back  of  the  neck,  deep,  shir^ 
.ng  green,  edged  w.th  black  below  ;  under  which  is  :  whhe  line, 
wh.ch,  before  the  eye,  meets  another  that  curves  forward  and 
downward  to  the  angles  of  the  mouth.  Chin  brownish-black  as 
are  the  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible.  Upp  r  par^ 
and  flanks  beautifully  undulated  with  narrow,  brownTsh-bC 
and  white  bars  ;  anterior  to  the  wings  is  a  short,  broad,  trans- 

tr^rh  1  "'f'.T"^^  brownish-gray;  th:  specuull 
the  lower  half  violet-black,  the  upper  bright  green,  changing  to 
purple  and  edged  with  black ;  behind  margined  with  whhe  be 

^Zd  tl  f  ""'f  •  ^''  ^---H-y,  the  featherli 
g.ned  ^,th  paler ;  the  upper  coverts  brownish-black,  edged 
wuh  hght  yellowish-gray.  Lower  part  of  neck  an  e  S 
barred  as  behmd.     Breast  yellowish-white,  spotted  with  black 

A    a'tT  f  H,  "!;'"  .  ^''""^"  "^'*^'  ^-%  barred  withtay! 
A  patch  of  black  under  the  tail;  the  lateral  tail-coverts  crfam 
colored,  the  larger  black,  with  broad  white  margins  and  t  ps 

Length  to  end  of  tail,  14?  inches;  to  end  of  claws,  15|. 
extent  of  wmgs,  24;    wing  from  flexure,  7^;    tail,  3|  •   bill' 
along  the  back,  1- ;  along  the  edge  of  WeVmandib  e,'lA 
tarsus,  1,1 ;  middle  toe,  1^ ;  its  claw,  -  ;  weight,  lOoz  ' 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female  wants  the  elongated  crest,  and  differs  greatly  in 
colonng      The  head  and  neck  are  streaked  with  dark  brown 

with  dark  brown;  the  anterior  feathers  barred,  the  posteriors 
margmed  w.th  yellowish-white.  The  wings  a're  ulrlyTl 
the  male,  but  the  green  of  the  speculum  is  less  extensive  •  the 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


131 


lower  part  of  the  foreneck  is  tinged  with  yellowish-red,  and 
mottled  with  dark  brown,  as  are  the  sides  ;  the  rest  of  the  lower 
parts  white. 

"  Length  to  end  of  tail,  13j  ;  to  end  of  claws,  14} ;  extent  of 
wings,  22^;  weight,  lOoz."— Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

"  Most  writers  on  the  ornithology  of  America  have  consid- 
ered this  bird  as  a  variety  of  the  European  Teal.     All,  how- 
ever, agree  in  their  regarding  the  difference  in  the  variety,  and 
of  its  being  constant  in  the  Northern  specimens.     Thus,  Dr. 
Latham  mentions  the  white  pectoral  band.     Forster  says,  '  This 
is  a  variety  of  the  Teal,  for  it  wants  the  two   white   streaks 
above  and  below  the  eyes  ;  the  lower  one  indeed  is  faintly  ex- 
pressed in  the  male,  which  has  also  a  lunated  bar  of  white  over 
each  shoulder;  this  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  European  Teal.' 
Pennant  observes,  '  that  it  wants  the  white  line  which  the  Euro- 
pean one  has  above  each  eye,  having  only  one  below ;  has  over 
each  shoulder  a  lunated  bar.'     The  authors  of  the  Northern 
Zoology  observe,  '  The  only  permanent  difference  that  we  have 
been  able  to  detect,  after  comparing  a  number  of  specimens,  is 
that  the  English  Teal  has  a  white  longitudinal  band  on  the 
scapulars,  which  the  other  wants.     All  the  specimens  brought 
home  by  the  Expedition  have  a  broad  transverse  bar  on  the  shoul- 
der, which  does  not  exist  in  the  English  one.'     And  our  author 
in  his  plate,  has  most  distinctly  marked  the  differences.     From 
the  testimony  of  all  its  describers,  marking  the  variety  as  perma- 
nent and  similar,  I  am  certainly  inclined  to  consider  this  bird, 
though  nearly  allied,  to  be  distinct ;  and  as  far  as  we  yet  know, 
peculiar  to  the  Northern  parts  of  America.     I  have  not  been 
able  to  procure  a  specimen  for  immediate  comparison,  and  only 
once  had  an  opportunity  of  slightly  examining  a  Northern  bird. 
From  their  great  similarity  no  observers  have  yet  particularly 
attended  to  the  manners  of  the  American  bird,  or  to  the  mark- 
ings of  the  females.     If  the  above  observations  are  the  means  of 
directing  farther  attention  to  these  points,  they  will  have  per- 


122 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


formed  their  intended  end.     I  by  no  means  consider  the  point 
decided. 

"  The  naturalists  of  Europe  have  designated  this  little  Duck 
by  the  name  of  American  Teal,  as  being  a  species  different  from 
their  own.  On  an  examination,  however,  of  the  figure  and  de- 
scription of  the  European  Teal,  by  the  ingenious  and  accurate 
Bewick,  and  comparing  them  with  the  present,  no  difference 
whatever  appears  in  the  length,  extent,  color,  or  markings  of 
either  but  what  commonly  occurs  among  individuals  of  any 
other  tribe,-  both  undoubtedly  belong  to  one  and  the  same 
species. 

This,  like  the  preceding,  is  a  fresh  water  Duck,  common 
in  our  markets  in  autumn  and  winter,  but  rarely  seen  here  in 
summer.  It  frequents  ponds,  marshes,  and  the  reedy  shores  of 
creeks  and  rivers  ;  is  very  abundant  among  the  rice  plantations 
of  the  Southern  States  ;  flies  in  small  parties,  and  feeds  at  night ; 
associates  often  with  the  Duck  and  Mallard,  feeding  on  the 
seeds  of  various  kinds  of  grasses  and  water  plants,  and  also  on 
the  tender  leaves  of  vegetables.  Its  flesh  is  accounted  excel- 
lent."—  Wilson''s  Ornithological  Biography. 

I  have  myself  shot  this  bird  repeatedly  on  both  continents— of 
Europe  and  America — and  am- very  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the 
alleged  two  species  are  identical.  I  have  killed  male  birds  in 
England  with  the  transverse  bar,  or  my  memory  grossly  de- 
ceives me  ;  and  most  assuredly  I  have  seen  specimens  here,  since 
my  attention  has  been  called  to  the  point  of  distinction,  wanting 
it.  I  fancy  that  the  variation  depends  on  the  age  of  the  indi- 
vidual birds. 


THE    WOOD    DUCK— SUMMER    DUCK. 

Anas  Sponsa. 

"  Male,  20i.28.     Female,  I9i 

"  Breeds  throughout  the  country  from  Texas  to  the  Colum- 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


123 


bia,  and  Eastward  to  Nova  Scotia  ;  Fur  Countries.     Accumu- 
lates in  the  Southern  Districts  in  winter. 
"  Adult  male. 

"Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  deeper  than  broad  at  the  base, 
depressed  toward  the  end,  slightly  narrowed  toward  the  middle 
of  the  unguis,  the  frontal  angles  prolonged  and  pointed.  Upper 
mandible  with  the  dorsal  line  at  first  sloping,  then  concave, 
along  the  unguis  convex,  the  ridge  broad  and  flat  at  the  base, 
convex  and  sloping  toward  the  end,  edges  soft  with  about 
twenty-two  lamelljE,  unguis  broadly  elliptical,  curved,  rounded. 
Nostrils  sub-basal,  lateral,  rather  small,  oval,  pervious.  Lower 
mandible  flattish,  with  the  angle  very  long  and  rather  narrow, 
the  dorsal  line  very  short,  convex,  the  sides  convex,  the  edges 
soft  and  rounded,  lamellate  above. 

"  Head  of  moderate  size.  Neck  rather  long  and  slender.  Body 
full  and  depressed.  Wings  rather  small.  Feet  very  short,  strong, 
placed  rather  far  back  ;  tarsus  very  short,  considerably  depress- 
ed, at  its  lower  part  anteriorly  with  two  series  of  scutella,  the 
rest  covered  with  reticulated  angular  scales.  Toes  scutellate 
above  ;  first  very  small,  free,  with  a  narrow  membrane  beneath  ; 
third  longest,  fourth  a  little  shorter  ;  claws  small,  curved,  com- 
pressed, acute ;  the  hind  one  smaller  and  more  curved,  that  of 
the  third  toe  with  an  inner  sharp  edge. 

"  Plumage  dense,  soft,  blended,  generally  glossed.  Feathers 
of  the  middle  of  the  head  and  upper  part  of  the  hind  neck  very 
narrow,  elongated,  and  uncurved ;  of  the  rest  of  the  head  and 
upper  part  of  the  neck  very  short ;  of  the  back  and  lower  parts 
in  general  broad  and  rounded,  excepting  on  the  shoulders  before 
the  wings,  where  they  are  enlarged,  very  broad  and  abrupt. 
Wings  of  moderate  length,  narrow,  acute ;  primaries  curved, 
strong,  tapering,  first  and  second  longest ;  secondaries  broad  and 
rounded.  Tail  of  moderate  length,  rather  broad,  much  rounded, 
of  sixteen  rounded  feathers. 

"  Upper  mandible  bright  red  at  the  base,  yellowish  at  the 
sides ;  the  intermediate  space  along  the  ridge  and  the  unguis 
black,  as  in  the  lower  mandible  and  its  membrane.     Iris  and 


184 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


edges  of  eye-lids  bright  red.     Feet  dull  orange;  claws  black 
Upper  part  of  the  head,  and  space  between  the  bill  and  the 
eye,  deep  green  and  highly  glossed  ;  belov»'  the  latter  space  a 
patch  of  dark  purple,  and  a  larger  one  of  the  same  color,  but 
.ghter,  behind  the  eye  ;  sides  of  the  neck,  its  hind  parts  under 
the  crest  and  the  nniddle  all  round  Vfery  dark  purple.     A  narrow 
line  along  the  base  of  the  upper  mandible  and  over  the  eye 
meetuig  on  the  occiput,  very  pure  white,  as  are  some  of  thj 
feathers  of  the  crest ;   another  from  behind  the  eye,  meetin- 
below  the  occ.put,  and  including  several  of  the  lower  elongated 
feathers.     Throat  for  more  than  three  inches  pure  white,wilh 
a  process  on  each   side  a  little  beyond  the  eye,  and  another 
nearly  half  way  down  the  throat.     Sides  of  the  neck,  and  its 
lower  part  anteriorly,  reddish-purple,  each  feather  on  the  latter 
with  a  triangular  white  tip.     Middle  of  the  neck  behind,  back 
and   rump,   very   dark   reddish-brown,   the   latter  deeper   and 
tinged  with  green;  upper  tail  coverts  and  tail  greenish-black- 
some  of  the  lateral  tail  coverts  dull  reddish-purple,  a  few  on 
either  side  with  their  filaments  light  red.     Smaller  wing  coverts, 
alula,  and   primaries   dull  grayish-brown ;   most  of  the  latter 
with  part  of  their  outer  web  grayish-white,  and  their   inner 
toward  the  tip  darker  and  glossed  with  green.    Secondary  quills 
tipped  with  white,  the  outer  webs  green,  with  purple  reflec- 
tions; those  of  the  inner  secondaries  and  scapulars  velvet  black 
their  inner  webs  partially  glossed,  and  changing  to  green.     The 
broad  feathers  anterior  to  the  wings  are  white,  terminated  with 
black;  breast  and  abdomen  grayish-white;  feathers  under  the 
wings  yellowish-gray,  minutely  undulated  with  black  and  white 
bars;    lower  wing  coverts  and   axillar  features   white,  barred 
with  grayish-brown  ;  lower  tail  coverts  dull  grayish-brown. 

"Length,  20i  inches;  to  the  end  of  claws,  17|;  extent  of 
wings,  28;  bill,  1^ ;  tarsus,  1/,;  middle  toe  and  claw,  2/.' 
wmg  from  flexure,  9  ;  tail,  4]. 

"  A4«4t4emale. 

"  The  female  is  considerably  smaller,  and  differs  greatly  from 
the  male  in  coloring.     The  feathers  of  the  head  are  not  elon- 


UPLAND    SHOOTrNO. 


125 


gated,  but  those  of  the  upper  part  of  the  neck  are  slightly  so. 
In  other  respects  the  plumage  presents  nothing  very  remarkable, 
and  is  similar  to  that  of  the  male,  only  the  feathers  anterior  to 
the  wing,  the   hypochondrial,  the   inner   secondaries   and  the 
rump  feathers,  are  not  enlarged  as  in  him.     Bill  blackish-brown  ; 
feet  dusky,  tinged  with  yellow.     Upper  part  of  the  head  dusky, 
glossed  with  green  ;  sides  of  the  head  and  neck,  and  the  hind 
part  of  the  latter,  light  brownish-gray  ;  throat  white,  but  with- 
out the  lateral  processes  of  the  male.     Forepart  of  the  neck 
below,   and   sides,   light   yellowish-brown,  mottled  with   dark 
grayish-brown,  as  are  the  sides  under  the  wings ;    breast  and 
abdomen  white,  the  former  spotted  with  brown.     Hind  neck, 
back  and  rump,  dark  brown,  glossed  with  green  and  purple. 
Wings  as  in  the  male,  but  the  speculum  less,  and  the  seconda- 
ries externally  faint   reddish-purple ;   the  velvet  black  of  the 
male  diminished  to  a  few  narrow  markings.     Tail  dark  brown, 
glossed   with   green ;    lower   tail-coverts   pale   grayish-brown, 
mottled  with  white ;  lower  wing-coverts  as  in  the  male. 
"Length,  lOj  inches. 

"  This  beautiful  species  ranges  over  the  whole  extent  of  the 
United  States,  and  I  have  seen  it  in  all  parts  from  Louisiana  to 
the  confines  of  Maine,  and  from  the  vicinity  of  our  Atlantic 
coasts  as  far  inland  as  my  travels  have  extended.  It  also  occurs 
sparingly  in  the  breeding  season  in  Nova  Scotia,  but  farther 
North  I  did  not  observe  it.  Everywhere  in  this  immense  tract, 
I  have  found  it  an  almost  constant  resident,  for  some  spend  the 
winter  even  in  Massachusetts,  and  far  up  the  warm  spring 
waters  of  brooks  on  the  Missouri.  It  confines  itself,  however, 
entirely  to  fresh  water,  preferring  at  all  times  the  secluded 
retreats  of  the  ponds,  bayous,  or  creeks,  which  occur  so  pro- 
fusely in  our  woods. 

"  The  flight  of  this  species  is  remarkable  for  its  speed,  and 
for  the  ease  and  elegance  with  which  it  is  performed.  The 
Wood  Duck  passes  through  the  woods,  and  even  among  the 
branches  of  trees,  with  as  much  facility  as  the  Passenger  Pigeon  ; 
and  while  removing  from  some  secluded  haunt  to  its  breeding- 


A  %«:.. 


111,^  1111 


VM 


FRANK    FOHKHTKR'm    FIELD    SfOKTB. 


grounds  nt  the  ftpproarh  of  night,  it  nhootH  over  the  trees  like  a 
meteor,  scarcoly  einiltiiif?  any  soiinti  from  its  winp;s. 

"The  Wood    Duck   iireeds  in   the  Middle  States  about  the 
beginning  of  April,  in  Massuchusetts  a  month  later,  and  in  Nova 
Scotia,  or  our  Northern  Lakes,  seldom  before  the  first  days  of 
June.     In  Louisiana  and   Kentucky,  where  I  have  had  better 
opportunities  of  studying  their  habits  in  this  respect,  they  gene- 
rally   pair   about    the   first   of  March,   sometimes   a   fortnight 
earlier.     I  never  knew  one  of  these  birds  to  form  a  nest  on  the 
ground,  or  on  the  branches  of  a  tree  ;  they  always  seem  to  pre- 
fer the  hollow,  broken  portion  of  some  large  marsh,  the  hole  of 
our  large  Woodpecker,  Picua  Principalia,  or  the  deserted  retreat 
of  the  fox  s(|uirrel  ;  and  1  have  frequently  been  surprised  to  see 
them  go  in  and  out  of  a  hole  of  any  one  of  these,  when  their 
bodies  while  on  wing,  seemed  to  be  nearly  half  as  large  again 
as  the  aperture  within  which  they  had  deposited  their  eggs. 
Once  only  I  found  a  nest  with  ten  eggs,  in  the  fissure  of  a  rock, 
on  the  Kentucky  River,  a  few  miles  below  Frankfort.     The 
eggs,  which  are  from  six  to  fifteen,  according  to  the  age  of  the 
bird,  are  placed  on  dry  plants,  feathers,  and  a  scanty  portion 
of  down,  which  I  believe  is  mostly  plucked  from  the  breast  of 
the  female.     They  are  perfectly  smooth,  nearly  elliptical,  of  a 
light  color  between  buff  and  pale  green,  two  inches  in  length  by 
one  and  a  half  in  diameter  ;  the  shell  is  about  equal  in  firmness 
to  that  of  the  Mallard's  egg,  and  quite  smooth. 

"  No  sooner  has  the  female  completed  her  set  of  eggs  than  she 
is  abandoned  by  her  mate,  who  now  joins  others,  which  form 
themselves  into  considerable  flocks,  and  thus  remain  until  the 
young  are  able  to  fly,  when  old  and  young  of  both  sexes  come 
together,  and  so  remain  until  the  commencement  of  the  next 
breeding  season.  If  the  nest  is  placed  immediately  over  the 
water,  the  young,  the  moment  they  are  hatched,  scramble  to 
the  mouth  of  the  hole,  launch  into  the  air  with  their  little  wint^s 
and  feet  spread  out,  and  drop  into  their  favorite  element ;  but 
whenever   their   birth-place  is   at  some   distance  from  it,  the 


OPr.AND   SHOOTINO. 


197 


mother  carries  them  to  it,  one  hy  one,  in  her  bill,  holding  them 
HO  as  not  to  injure  their  yet  tender  fruines. 

*'  Thoso  which  hroed  in  Maino,  New  Brunswick,  and  Nova 
Scotiu,  move  southward  as  soon  as  tlie  frosts  commence,  and 
none  are  known  to  spend  the  winter  so  far  North.  I  have  been 
much  surprised  to  find  Wri,so>(  speaking  of  the  Wood  Ducks 
as  a  species  of  which  more  than  five  or  six  inchviduals  are 
seldom  seen  together.  A  would-be  naturalist  in  America,  who 
has  had  better  opportunities  of  knowing  its  habits  than  the 
admired  author  of  the  *  American  Ornithology,'  repeats  the 
same  error ;  and  I  am  told,  believes  that  all  his  statements  are 
considered  true. .  For  my  own  part,  I  have  seen  hundreds  in  a 
single  flock,  and  have  known  fifteen  to  be  killed  by  a  single 
shot.  They,  however,  raise  only  one  brood  in  the  course  of 
the  season,  unless  their  eggs  or  young  are  destroyed.  In  this 
case  the  female  soon  finds  means  of  recalling  her  mate  from  the 
flock  which  he  haa  ioined.''— Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

The  discrepant  statements,  alluded  to  in  the  last  paragraph, 
concerning  the  gregarious  habits  of  the  Wood  Duck,  may  be 
probably  accounted  for  by  the  difference  of  the  bird's  manners 
in  different  localities.  I  have  never  myself  seen  above  eight  or 
nine  of  these  birds  together,  and  I  presume  that  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard,  they  are  rarely  seen  in  greater  numbers. 
On  the  Great  Lakes,  and  in  the  unbounded  solitudes  of  the 
West,  they  doubtless  congregate,  as  do  many  other  species,  in 
vast  flocks. 

There  is  nothing  which  it  behoves  the  observer  of  natural 
history  more  to  guard  against  than  a  tendency  to  convert  local 
or  accidental  peculiarities  of  individuals  into  settled  habits  of 
species.  All  wild  animals  appear  to  accommodate  themselves 
with  infinite  facility  to  circumstances,  and  to  adapt  their  man- 
ners to  the  necessities  of  the  regions  in  which  they  chance  to 
be  thrown,  more  readily  than  is  generally  suspected.  In  one 
place,  a  species  is  solitary ;  in  another,  gregarious  in  its  cus- 
turns— here  it  is  migratory,  there  domestic  ;  and  to  positive  and 


i 


in 


128 


FHANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


general  dicta,  ascribing  these  habits  invariably  to  this  or  that 
species,  much  confusion  and  inconvenience  may  be  attributed. 
As  an  instance,  I  will  merely  state  here,  what  I  shall  go  into 
more  largely  hereafter,  that  the  common  Quail,  Ortyx  Virginia- 
na,  which  is  to  the  Westward  distinctly  a  bird  of  passage, 
with  easily  defined  habits  of  migration,  eastward  of  the  Dela- 
ware River  is  unquestionably  stationary;  and  that  from  this 
undoubted  fact,  a  question  has  arisen  whether  there  were  not 
two  different  species ;  and,  that  hypothesis  proved  untenable, 
a  doubt,  among  the  less  enlightened  of  B^astern  sportsmen,  whe- 
ther the  naturalists  and  travellers  who  have  insisted  oii  the 
migratory  habits  of  the  Quail,  especially  on  the  Ohio  and  other 
large  western  rivers,  have  not  ignorantly  or  wilfully  falsified 
the  truth. 

Such  mistakes  should  be  guarded  against  with  care,  anu  all 
conflicting  statements,  as  made  by  candid  and  earnest  enquirers, 
regarded  with  the  utmost  liberality  and  allowance ;  which,  I 
regret  to  say,  is  too  seldom  practised  by  naturalists,  who  fre- 
quently appear  to  regard  all  who  difler  from  themselves,  much 
in  the  light  of  enemies,  or  of  heretics,  with  whom  no  terms  are 
to  be  kept. 

The  last  water-fowl,  of  which  I  shall  give  a  minute  descrip- 
tion as  falling  uncler  the  head  of  Upland  Game,  is  the 


PINTAIL    DUCK, 


Anas  Acuta— Til kon.  Le  Canard  a  Longue  Queue— Brissott. 
The  mnter  Duck,  Sprigtail,  Pigeontail,  vulgo. 

"Male  29.36.     Female  221.34. 

"From  Texas  throughout  the  interior  to  the  Columbia 
River,  and  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Maine,  during  the 
winter,  and  early  spring.  Breeds  in  the  Arctic  regions. 
Abundant. 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


129 


Bill  nearly  as  long  as  the  head,  deeper  than  broad  „.  .... 
a«e,  depressed   toward  the  end,  the  frontal   angles  short  and 


at  tl 


obtuse.     Upper  mandible  with  dorsal  1 


line  at  first  sloping,  then 


concave-toward  the  curved  unguis  nearly  straight ;  the  ridge 
broad  and  flat  at  the  base,  then  broadly  convex  ;  the  sides 
convex  ;  the  edges  soft,  with  about  fifty  internal  lamelte  • 
unguis  small,  somewhat  triangular,  curved  abruptly  at  the 
broad  end.  Nostrils  sub-basal,  lateral,  rather  s.nall,  oval, 
pervious.  Lower  mandible  fiattish,  its  angle  very  long  and 
narrow ;  the  dorsal  line  very  short,  slightly  convex ;  the  sides 
convex ;  the  edges  soft,  with  about  fifty  lamellae. 

"Head  of  moderate  size,  compressed,  the  forehead  rounded 
Neck    rather   long    and    slender.     Body   full   and    depressed. 
Wmgs  rather  small.     Feet  very  short,  placed  rather  far  back  • 
tarsus  very  short,  compressed,  at  its  lower  part  anteriorly  with 
two  senes  of  scutella,  the  rest  covered  with  reticulated  scales 
Toes  obhquely  scutellate  above ;  first  very  small,  free,  with  a 
narrow  membrane  beneath  ;  third  longest ;  fourth  a  little  shorter 
tlie.r  connecting  webs  entire,  reticulated,  at  the  end  pectinate' 
^.laws  small,  curved,  compressed,  acute;  the  hind  one  smaller 
and^more  curved-that  of  the  third  toe  with  an  inner  sharp 

"  Plumage  dense,  soft,  blended.  Feathers  of  the  head  and 
neck  short ;  on  the  hind  head  and  neck  elongated  Wi„.s 
narrow,  of  moderate  length,  acute;  ti^c,  first  quill  longest,  the 
second  nearly  equal,  the  rest  rapidly  graduated  ;  outer  seconda- 
ries broad  and  rounded ;  inner  elongated  and  tapering,  as  are 
their  coverts  and  the  scapulars ;  first  quill  serrated  on  the  outer 
edge,  something  like  that  of  the  Owl.  Tail  of  moderate  len-^th 
tapering,  of  fourteen  tapering  feathers,  of  which  the  two  middle 
p.oject  far  beyond  the  rest. 

"  Bill  black  ;  the  sides  of  the  upper  mandible  li.^it  blue  Iris 
brown.  Feet,  grayish-blue.  Claws  black.  Head,  throat,  and 
upper  part  of  the  neck  anteriorly  greenish-brown,  faintly  mar- 
gined behind  with  purplish-red.  A  small  part  of  hind  neck 
dark-green  ;  the  rest,  and  the  upper  parts  in  general,  beautifully 


u.  I. 


9 


130 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


undulated  with  very  narrow  bars  of  brownish-black  and  yellow- 
ish-white. Smaller  wing-coverts,  alula  and  primary  quills  gray — 
the  latter  dark  brown  toward  the  end.  Speculum  of  a  coppery- 
red,  changing  to  dull  green  ;  edged  anteriorly  with  light  brown- 
ish-red ;  posteriorly  with  white.  The  inner  secondaries  and  the 
scapulars  black  and  green,  with  broad  gray  margins.  Upper 
tail-coverts  cream-colored,  the  outer  webs  blackish  and  green  ; 
tail  light  gray,  the  middle  feathers  dark  brown,  glossed  with 
green.  On  each  side  of  the  neck  is  an  oblique  band  of  white, 
of  which  color  are  the  under  parts  in  general ;  the  sides,  how- 
ever, are  undulated  like  the  back ;  the  lateral  feathers  of  the 
rump  cream-colored  ;  the  lower  tail-coverts  black ;  those  at  the 
sides  edged  with  white. 

"  Length  to  the  end  of  tail,  29  inches  ;  extent  of  wings,  36  ; 
bill  along  the  back,  2^^ ;  along  the  edge  of  lower  mandible, 
2^*2  ;  tarsus,  hV ;  middle  toe  with  claw,  2-^r^  ;  wing  from  flexure, 
1 1  ;  tail,  b\ ;  weight  2lbs. 

"  Adult  Female. 

"  The  female,  which  is  much  smaller,  has  the  upper  parts  va- 
riegated with  brownish-black  and  light  yellowish-brown  ;  the 
margin  of  the  feathers  and  a  mark  on  each  side  of  the  shaft  be- 
ing of  the  latter  color.  The  speculum  is  dusky  green,  margined 
behind  with  white.  The  primary  quills  grayish-brown.  The 
lower  parts  are  of  a  light  brownish-yellow,  the  sides  variegated 
with  brown  ;  the  bill  is  black  ;  the  iris  brown ;  the  feet  light 
bluish-gray. 

"  Length,  22-]  mches  ;  extent  of  wings,  34  ;  weight,  lib.  9oz. 

"  The  first  observation  that  I  made,  on  arriving  at  Labrador, 
was  that  no  species  of  Ducks,  excepting  those  which  were  en- 
tirely or  chiefly  oceanic,  seemed  to  resort  to  that  coast ;  and  I 
left  the  country  with  the  same  impression.  We  saw  no  Mal- 
lards, Teals,  Widgeons,  or  Wood  Ducks  there,  nor  any  species 
of  Merganser,  except  the  Red-breasted,  which  is  a  marine  bird. 
The  Pintail  Duck,  then,  was  not  known  in  the  parts  of  that 
country  which  I  visited  ;  nor  was  it  known  in  Newfoundland, 
on  the  Magdeleine  Islands,  or  in  the  British  Province  of  Nova 


UPLAND    SHOOTmo.  jg, 

Scotia  at  least  along  its  Atlantic  boundaries.  I„  Kenlucliv  and 
«>.who,e  of  the  Western  country,  where  it  is  e^re^^abund 
ant  ,„  early  autumn,  during  winter,  and  up  to  a  very  fdvanel 

fe  found.     It  follows  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  to  New  Or 

rnds'lT"   TT"  '"   *"  ^™™'  °f  OPP»'°-T  and 
I  k     h    Matd    t         "  '"  "  Massachusetts,  beyond  w'hich, 
like  the  Mallard,  ,t  ,s  very  rarely  seen.     Indeed,  this  species  is 
at  all  fmes  rare  or,  the  seacoast  of  the  Atlantic,  and  mus  there 
fore  be  regarded  as  an  inland  bird  a  must  tliere- 

by".h?tamr,!f  s"''">-,"  "■»  United  States,  is  better  known 

by  the  name  of  Spngtad,  arnves  on  the  Western  waters  earlv 

n  October,  somet,mes  even  in  September  ;  the  period  of  its  ar"^ 

nva    depeadmg  on  the  state  of  the  weather,  or  the  appearance 

•  is  intl  riv  ""'r''""  "  '''''"  "™-^-     Their"  ue 
«  .n  8„e  cond,t,on  when  they  arrive;  their  tail  feathers  are  then 
a,      ng  as  at  any  other  period,  and  the  whole  apparel  of  th 
adul  bird  ,s  as  perfect  as  in  the  breeding  season. 

Whdstwith  us,  the  Pintail  is  found  in  company  with  th. 

Ml  art  °ltf  ™""  T'^""'  *'  "'-^'"g'"  Tea,,  and  t 
Mallard    more  frequently  on  ponds  than  on  streams  ,  althoush 

.t  sometimes  resorts  to  the  latter,  when  their  shores  are  over- 
hung w.th  beech-trees,  loaded  with  their  nutritious  fruits,  of 
«^h,ch  th,s  spec,es  „  extremely  fond,  and  in  search  of  which 
they  even  ramble  a  short  distance  into  the  woods.     Were  this 
Duek  to  feed  entirely  on  beech  mast,  ,  have  no  doubt  that 
flesh  would  be  excellent.     It  feeds  on  tadpoles  in  sprin,,  on 
eeches  m  autumn,  while,  during  the  winter,  a  dead  mo'  se 
hould  ,   come  ,„  ,ts  way,  is  swallowel  with  as  much  avidity  a,' 
by  a  Mallard.     To  these  articles  of  food  it  adds  insects  of  aU 
kmds  ;  and,  ,n  fact,  is  by  no  means  an  .expert  fly-ealcher 

The  Pintails  are  less  shy  in  the  Wesiern  country  than  most 
^peces  of  the.  family ;  and  in  this  respect  they  resemble  tTe 
Bu-W,nged  Teals ;  which,  in  fact,  might  be  called  stupid  birds, 
w.th  as  much  propriety  as  many  others.     They  swim  rathe 
deeply,  keep  close  together,  and  raise  the  hind  f/n  of  the  body 


11 

1,;  !:. 

1 

I'll' 

i 

l|  ^ 

132 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


like  the  Mallards.  On  the  water,  on  land,  or  on  the  wing,  se- 
veral may  generally  Ije  killed  at  a  shot.  They  are  scarcely  noc- 
turnal, but  rest  much  in  the  middle  of  the  day ;  basking  in  the 
sunshine  whilst  on  the  water,  whenever  they  can  indulge  in  this 
luxury. 

"  The  flight  of  the  Pintails  is  very  rapid,  greatly  protracted, 
and  almost  noiseless.  They  remain  at  night  in  the  ponds  where 
they  feed;  and  continue  there  generally,  unless  much  disturbed. 
On  such  occasions  they  keep  in  the  middle  of  the  water,  to 
avoid  their  land  enemies.  In  the  Middle  States  they  are  highly 
esteemed  for  the  table.  There  they  arrive  later,  and  retire 
sooner  toward  their  breeding  places,  than  in  the  country  west 
of  the  Alleghany  Mountains." — Audubon's  Birds  of  America 

This  species,  like  the  last,  is  seldom  found,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  Middle  and  Eastern  States,  in  such  large  flocks,  as 
it  would  appear  to  use  in  the  West.  It  is  often  found  soli- 
tary ;  and  very  seldom,  in  my  own  experience,  are  more  than 
three  or  four  to  be  found  in  company. 

I  entertain  some  suspicion  that  the  Pintail  Duck  occasionally 
breeds  in  New  Jersey  and  in  New  York.  In  the  former  State, 
on  one  occasion,  I  shot  an  adult  female  bird,  in  full  plumage,  as 
late  as  the  twelfth  of  May.  She  rose,  before  a  dead  point  from 
an  old  setter,  out  of  a  thick  tuft  of  alders  on  a  large  marsh  mea- 
dow. I  could  find  no  traces  of  a  nest,  but  can  conceive  no 
object  but  that  of  nidification  which  should  have  induced  the 
bird  to  seek  such  a  haunt.  I  have  several  times  shot  these  birds 
during  spring  Snipe-shooting,  so  late  as  the  end  of  April. 


The  American  Widgeon,  Anas  Americana.,  is  occasionally 
found  on  fresh  waters,  especially  to  the  westward  of  the  Ohio  ; 
but  rarely  frequents  rivers,  except  on  their  estuaries  and  sand- 
bars, where  it  associates  more  with  the  FuligulcB,  or  Sea  Ducks, 
than  with  its  immediate  congeners.  It  is  found  on  the  Chesa- 
peake with  the  Canvass-back,  and  is  known  as  the  "  Bald- 
pate." 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


133 


The  Shoveller,  Anas  Clypeata,  is  rare  in  the  United 
States ;  though  they  are  found  in  Louisiana,  Florida,  and  the 
Carohnas  m  winter;  but  are  abundant  on  the  streams  of  the 
Kocky  Mountains  and  in  Texas. 

The  Gadwall,  Anas  Strepera,  is  also  found,  though  rarely, 
along  the  maritime  districts  of  the  States.  In  the  interior,  espe- 
cially on  the  tributaries  of  the  Ohio,  Missouri,  and  Mississippi, 
It  IS  said  to  abound.  It  is  of  solitary  habits,  rarely  congregating 
m  large  bodies,  and  is  therefore  not  generally  known  in  the 
United  States. 

Of  the  Sea  Ducks,  the  Golden-Eve,  Fuligula  Clangula, 
and  the  Buffel-Head,  Fuligula  Albeola,  better  known  as  the 

Whistler,"  and  the  «  Butter-Ball,"  are  at  times  found  on  the 
fresh  waters  of  the  interior,  but  not  in  sufficient  numbers  to  ren- 
der It  necessary  to  do  more  than  name  them,  as  it  would  be  a 
most  liberal  courtesy  which  should  extend  to  them  the  style  of 
Upland  game,  which  may  be  held  to  be  completed  with  the 
Duck  last  described.- 

The  list  thus  concluded,  the  nomenclature  established  on 
fixed  grounds,  and  the  general  habits  and  territorial  limits  of 
every  kind  of  Upland  game  being  thus  laid  before  the  reader. 
I  sha  1  proceed  to  treat,  each  in  its  several  place  and  season,  of 
the  Upland  shooting  of  the  Eastern  and  Middle  United  States 
and  the  Provinces,  in  all  its  various  kinds  and  phases  ;  touching 
upon  each  according  to  the  date  of  its  commencement  in  the 
natural  year. 


mi 
111 


W 


134 


THANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


THE  UPLAND   SHOOTING 


OF    ""HE 


EASTERN   AND   MIDDLi       lATES,   AND   OF  THE 
BRITISH  PROVINCES. 


PLAND  SHOOTING,  which, 
with  the  interval  of  about  three 
months  in  ordinary  seasons,  may 
be  enjoyed  in  some  form  or  other 
during  the  whole  year,  in  the 
Eastern  and  Middle  States,  may 
be  divided  with  propriety  into 
four  different  heads,  commencing 
with  the  opening  of  spring,  and  terminating  only  with  the  termi- 
nation of  the  year. 

These  heads  are  "  Spring  Snipe  Shooting  ;"  "  Summer  Cock 
Shooting;"  "Upland  Plover  Shooting;"  and  "Autumn  Shoot- 
ing," which  might  be  called  "  general  shooting,"  inasmuch  as  in 
the  course  of  a  good  day's  sport,  it  is  by  no  means  unusual  to 
bring  to  bag  almost  every  variety  of  game  which  I  have  enume- 
rated above,  the  Grouse  and  the  Northern  Hare  alone  excepted. 
A  separate  head  must  be  given  to  Grouse  shooting, — by  which 
I  mean  Pinnated  Grouse;  since  they  are  so  nearly  extinct  in 
those  districts  in  which  alone  Upland  Shooting  is  practised  sci- 
entifically and  as  a  sport,  that  they  are  rarely,  I  might  say  never 
met  with,  by  those  in  pursuit  of  other  game. 

It  will  be  observed  that  I  am  now  speaking  of  Upland  shoot- 
ing, as  it  m;  both  established  by  law,  and  habitually  practised, 


UPLAND   SHOtn-WG. 


13o 


in  those  of  the  States  in  which  only  game  is  generally  piotected 
by  statute;  not  as  I  think  it  should  be.  For  it  is  my  settled  opi- 
nion that  Spring  Snipe  shooting  and  Summer  Cock  shooting  are 
both  abominations ;  and  that  both  humanity  and  policy  forbid  the 
slaughter  of  these  birds  of  passage,  until  they  have  finished  rear- 
ing  their  young,  and  until  those  young  have  attained  their  full 
growth.  On  this  topic  I  shall  enlarge  hereafter,  under  the  head 
of  "  Game  Preservation  ;"  though  I  have  but  slight  hopes  that 
any  steps  will  be  taken,  which  can  avail  to  preserve  all  the 
winged  game  of  America  from  speedy  extermination.  In  like 
manner,  I  shall  defer  the  observations,  which  I  propose  to  make 
on  the  species,  management,  diseases,  etc.,  of  Sporting  Dogs,  and 
and  on  the  qualities  and  management  of  the  Fowlingpiece,  and 
the  art  of  shooting  on  the  Wing,  until  I  have  got  through  what  ) 
have  to  say  on  Upland  shooting  generally. 

And  here  I  will  remark,  once  for  all,  in  reply  to  a  question 
which  has  already  been  propounded  to  me  several  times,  since  it 
has  transpu-ed  that  I  am  engaged  on  this  work—*'  Whether  any 
portion  of  it  will  be  set  apart  especially  for  the  instruction  of 
young   sportsmen  ?»— I    am   aware  of   nothing  in   the   science 
of  woodcraft  more  appropriate  to  be  learned  by  the  beginner, 
than  another.     There  is  no  patent  by  which  skill  may  be  ac- 
quired, no  formula  to  be  learned,  after  which  all  is  plain  and 
easy  sailing.     So  soon  as  any  person  has  acquired  the  power 
of  bringing  up  his  gun  correctly  on  an  object,  and  firing  it  at 
once  without  dwelling  on  his  aim,  he  is  fit  to  take  the° field; 
and  after  this,  all  the  difference  between  the  old  and  young,  the 
good  and  bad,  sportsman,  natural  qualifications  which  cannot  be 
a.-|uired  alone  excepted,  is  the  amount  of  practice,  and  the  extent 
of  observation.     He  who  most  thoroughly  understands  the  natural 
history,  the  instincts  and  the  habits,  both  of  the  animals  which  he 
pursues  and  the  animals  which  he  uses  as  assistants  in  pursuit 
will  necessarily  be  the  best  sportsman ;  and  all  that  the  best  sport- 
ing writer  can  accomplish  is  to  give  a  small  number  of  facts  on 
which  to  work ;  and  so  to  throw  out  many  suggestions,  which 
shall  lead  the  sportsman  into  the  habit  of  thinking  for  himself, 


]36 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


and  seeing  with  his  own  eyes;  and  above  all,  cause  him  to 
avoid  regarding  the  smallest  peculiarity  he  may  observe  in  tlie 
field  of  nature  unworthy  of  consideration. 

With  regard  to  the  art  of  shooting,  a  very  few  instructions  only 
can  be  given,  and  they  can  do  but  little  toward  the  formation  of  a 
shot.     Practice  alone  can  make  a  good  shot,  even  of  one  en- 
dowed with   the  greatest  natural   aptitude ;    and,  without  the 
gift  of  natural  aptitude,  no   one  can  ever  hope  to  be  a  crack 
shot  on  the  wing.     No  one,  however,  who  desires  it,  need  des 
pair  of  becoming,  in  something  more  than  a  moderate  degree, 
a  proficient  in  this  beautiful  art,  since  the  introduction  of  the 
percussion  system;    which   has    so  greatly  simplified   the  art, 
and  diminished  the  difficulty  of  shooting  on  the  wing,  that  it 
IS  a  current  remark    now-a-days   that,  «a    bad  shot   in   1848 
is  a  rarer  thing  to  meet  than  a  good  one  was  in  1800  " 

The  same  thing  is  in  a  less  degree  the  case  with  the  man- 
agement of  dogs  in  the  field;  there  are,  it  is  true,  general,  aye, 
and  particular  rules,  which  may  be  laid  down  for  the  guidance 
of  the  hunter  ;  which  rules,  if  strenuously  put  in  practice,  shall 
be  m   themselves  all  sufficient.     But  to   this  end  practice  is 
essential-practice  in  learning  when  and  how  each  rule  is  to 
be  put  m  force;  practice  in  controlling  "  -patience,  in  combat- 
ing  temper,  in   acquiring  perfect   coolness        '    complete    seF- 
command.     No  man  may  hope,  let  him  kno,        ,w  to  do  so 
never  so  well,  to  govern   his   dogs,  until    he  ha.         -ned  first 
to  govern  himself.     If  I  were  asked  to    state  wha.        re  the 
three   things   most  necessary  to   the   formation  of  the        -feet 
sportsman,  I   think   I    should   parody   the    reply  of  the        at 
Athenian  rhetorician,  and  reply,  "  Practice  !  practice  !  practice  »" 
But  of  these  things  severally  in  their  places :   and  now   to 
the  field  for  spring  Snipe-shooting. 


Ui'LAND   SHOOTING. 


la? 


SPRING  SNIPE-SHOOTING 


American  S^iPE.^Scolopax  misonii,^y,hich  ,s  commonly 
known  in  this  country  as  the  Enghsh  Snipe,  but  which  is 
undoubtedly  a  distinct  species,  winters,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the 
.Southern  States,  and  yet  southward  of  the  most  southern  •  being 
rarebr  found  in  the  winter  northward,  or  in  the  summer  south- 
ward,  of  the  Carolinas. 

The  great  multitude  breed  far  to  th.e  northward,  not  only  of 
the  United  States,  but  of  the  British  Provinces,  in  the  vast  marshy 
tracts  which  extend  inland  nearly  to  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Many 
however,  make  their  nests  and  rear  their  young  in  the  secluded 
morasses  of  Maine,  Nova  Scotia,  and  New  Brunswick ;  and  a 
few  pairs,  here  and  there  throughout  the  Eastern  and  Middle 
States,  becoming  less  frequent  as  they  advance  toward  the  South 
so  far  probably  as  the  north  of  Pennsylvania.  ' 

In  Western  Canada,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Amherstberg,  they 
are  likewise  found  during  the  breeding  season,  and  probably  on 
the  southern  verge  of  the  Great  Lakes  likewise. 

They  are,  however,  with  us,  from  New  Jersey  eastward, 
essentially  a  spring  and  autumn  passing  visitant ;  and  this  is  their 
character  so  far  northward  as  Quebec.     In  New  Brunswick  and 


!  'f 


M^    M 


ii 


Mkiti 


138 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Nova  Scotia  they  may  perhaps  be  regarded  as  a  summer  resident ; 
though  I  am  persuaded  that  their  numbers,  even  there,  in  the 
spring  and  autumn,  will  be  found  vastly  to  exceed  the  tale  of 
those  which  remain  and  rear  their  young.  Throughout  the 
Southern  and  Western  country  they  are,  on  the  contrary,  winter 
residents. 

Now  the  shooting  of  these  birds  in  spring,  as  they  are  either 
pairing  here  preparatory  to  breeding,  or  moving  northward  pre- 
paratory to  pairing,  or  even  actually  breeding — as  is  the  case 
when  they  are  shot  in  May — is  precisely  what  it  would  be  to 
shoot  Woodcock  in  February,  March,  and  April,  or  Quail  so  late 
as  to  the  middle  of  May  ;  the  destruction  of  the  breeders,  and  con- 
sequent diminution  of  the  number  of  the  next  year's  young,  being 
the  same  in  both  cases.  The  American  Snipe  lays  four  eggs ; 
the  death,  therefore,  of  every  Snipe  during  spring  shooting  is 
equivalent  to  the  death  of  five  of  these  beautiful  and  sporting 
little  birds. 

This,  one  would  suppose,  would  be  conclusive  against  the 
practice ;  but  if  he  venture  to  break  ground  in  favor  of  the  abo- 
lition by  law  of  this  unfair,  and  I  must  think,  unsportsmanlike 
practice,  he  is  met  and  silenced  by  some  such  exquisite  reason  as 
this — that  if  spring  Snipe-shooting  were  prohibited,  we  should 
have  no  spring  shooting  at  all ;  and  the  same  exquisite  reason  is 
adduced  against  the  only  step  which  can  save  the  Woodcock 
from  extermination,  I  mean  the  abolition  of  summer  cock- 
shooting. 

To  return,  however,  to  spring  Snipe-shooting,  as  it  is. 
So  soon  as  the  spring  is  fairly  broken,  and  the  frost — to  use 
u  common  phrase — entirely  out  of  the  ground,  the  Snipe 
begins  to  appear  upon  our  meadows.  This  breaking  of  the 
spring,  and  disappearance  of  the  subterranean  frost  is,  as  is  well 
known,  very  uncertain  as  regards  the  time  of  its  occurrence. 
Sometimes,  particularly  when  the  winter  has  been  continuous  and 
severe,  spring  comes  upon  us  suddenly  and  remains  permanent — 
with  no  cold  squalls  and  nipping  frosts  intermediate — increasing 
still  into  perfect  summer.     At  other  times,  most  frequently  when 


f  may 


ri'1^~ 


^i 


t 


fr:^ 


nrnn 


i 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


139 


the  winter  has  been  uncertain  open  and  variable,  and  when  ibe 
months  of  January  and  February  have  been,  as  was  the  case  in 
1S43,  unusually  mild  and  genial,  there  is,  as  it  were,  no  spring 
at  all,  winter  lingering  into  the  lap  of  June  In  the  year  above 
mentioned,  the  ground  was  white  with  snow  in  Philadelphia  on 
the  first  of  that  month. 

In  the  former  of  these  two  kinds  of  spring,  the  Snipe  compose 
themselves  for  a  long  sojourn,  lie  well  to  the  dog,  grow  very  fat 
and  lazy,  and  defer  their  departure  till  the  weather  becomes  so 
warm  and  dry  as  to  render  their  migration  a  matter  of  necessity. 
As  an  example  of  this,  in  the  spring  of  1836  I  drove  from  New 
York  into  Orange  county,  on  the  10th  of  April,  in  a  sleigh,  over 
deep  snow;  and,  within  a  week  afterward,  and  thence  up  to  the 
10th  of  June,  shot  Snipe  in  abundance  in  New  Jersey,  both  at 
Chatham  and  Pine  Brook,  on  the  Passaic. 

In  the  latter  there  is  sometimes  no  spring  shooting  at  all ;  the 
birds  merely  alighting  in  whisps  or  small  parties,  from  five  to 
twenty  in  number,  remaining  a  single  day,  and  then  off  again 
Northward,  with  no  tarrying. 

For  several  years,  latterly,  spring  Snipe-shooting  has  been  so 
indiflerent,  that  few  sportsmen  have  followed  it,  and  that  the  mar- 
kets have  been  badly  suj  plied. 

The  arrival,  however,  of  the  Snipe  in  New  Jersey— in  South-j 
ern  New  York  there  is  little  good  Snipe-ground—varies  from  the 
tenth  of  March,  which  is  the  earliest  date  at  which  I  have  ever 
seen  them  plentiful  on  the  Upland  meadows,  to  the  fifteenth  of 
April.  If  they  have  not  arrived  at  the  latter  of  these  dates,  it 
may  generally  be  taken  for  granted,  that  the  year  will  have  n9 
spring  Saipe-shooting. 

It  must  be  observed  that  obtaining  great  sport  in  spring  Snipe- 
shooting  must  always,  to  those  who  do  not  reside  immediately  on 
the  ground,  be  more  or  less  a  matter  of  good  fortune ;  since  it  is 
not  above  once,  in  five  or  six  years,  that  these  birds  come  on  and 
stay  under  such  favorable  circumstances,  as  cause  them  to  settle,  as 
it  is  termed,  to  the  ground  ;  and,  when  this  is  not  the  case,  succes- 
sive flights  arriving,  tarrying  for  a  few  days  and  passing  onward, 


140 


FRANK  FORESTEB's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


it  Is  very  possible  that  a  stranger,  coming  from  a  distance  to  shoot 
will  find  the  meadows  which  were  yesterday  alive  with  Snipe 
entirely  deserted,  and  vice  versa. 

Still  there  are  signs  and  tokens  both  of  the  weather  and  of  the 
animal  creation— temperatures  of  the  former  and  coincidences  of 
the  latter— by  which  the  observant  sportsman  may  come  at  con- 
clusions, even  at  a  distance  from  his  ground,  and  seldom  errone- 
ously, concerning  the  arrival  and  sojourn  of  Snipe. 

And  again,  the  biids  have  habits  and  haunts,  during  various 
aspects  and  sudden  changes  of  weather,  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
which  will  enable  one  sportsman  to  fill  his  bag,  while  another  on 
the  same  ground  shall  make  up  his  mind  in  despair,  that  there  are 
no  Snipe  on  the  meadows. 

There  is  no  bird  whose  habits  I  have  studied  more  closely  than 
those  of  the  Snipe,  more  especially  during  b=i  vernal  visit  to  our 
part  of  the  country,  for  which  my  residence,  nearly  adjoining  the 
very  finest  Snipe-ground,  as  I  believe  it  even  yet  to  be,  in  the  world, 
has  given  me  great  facilities ;  and  I  have  it  in  my  power  to  point 
out  one  or  two  peculiarities— tending,  by  the  way,  more  com- 
pletely to  distinguish  it  from  the  European  species— which  have 
escaped  the  observation  of  our  great  American  naturalists,  Wilson 
and  Audubon. 

I  have,  moreover,  shot  them  from  Delaware  southward,  to 
Quebec,  in  the  north ;  and  from  the  Niagara  River  to  the  coun- 
try about  the  Penobscot;  so  that  I  have  not  been  without  oppor- 
tunity of  becoming  acquainted  in  some  degree  with  their  habits, 
throughout   the  whole  geographical   area  of  their   spring   and 
autumn  migration ;  and  here  I  would  state,  though  with  much 
deference,  as  becomes  one  diflfering  from  so  high  an  authority, 
that  neither  in  this  nor  in  any  other  of  our  migratory  birds  of 
Game  is  there  so  much  difference  with  regard  to  the  time  of  their 
arrival  and  departure  within  the  limits  I  have  named,  as  Mr. 
Audubon  would  make. 

That  eloquent  writer  and  accurate  observer,  states  the  arrival 
of  this  bird  to  be  a  month  later,  varying  with  the  season,  in 
Maine  than  in  Pennsylvania ;   and  ten  days  later  yet  in  Nova 


UPLAND  SHOOTING. 


141 


Scotia  Now  I  am  satisfied  that,  unless  when  the  winter  is  ex- 
tremely short  and  spring  unusually  warm  and  early  to  the  West- 
ward, this  discrepancy  is  greatly  overrated. 

The  average  commencement  of  Snipe-shooting,  even  in  Dela- 
ware, is  not  earlier,  I  am  convinced,  than  the  first  of  April ;  and, 
except  in  uncommonly  early  seasons,  they  appear  almost  simulta- 
neously in  New  Jersey  and  New  York.  Early  in  April,  I  have 
shot  these  birds  in  abundance  close  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara ;  early 
in  April  I  have  shot  them  in  Maine ;  and  at  the  end  of  that  same 
month,  I  have  shot  them  on  the  upland  pastures  around  Quebec. 
On  average  seasons,  that  is  to  say  seasons  in  which  the  spring 
is  everywhere  late  and  backward,  I  have  found  by  my  own  ob- 
servation, that  the  arrival  both  of  the  Woodcock  and  of  the  Snipe 
is  nearly  simultaneous,  from  Pennsylvania  to  Maine,  and  I  believe 
on  enquiry  such  will  prove  to  be  the  case. 

This  is,  however,  except  as  a  matter  of  curiosity,  tending  to 
throw  light  on  the  breeding  seasons  of  our  bird  in  various  places, 
and  so  to  enable  us  to  legislate  with  most  advantage  for  his  pre- 
servation, a  matter  of  small  importance  ;  for,  from  the  moment 
of  his  arrival  in  each  several  locality,  until  that  of  his  departure, 
he  is  incessantly  persecuted  and  pursued  ;  and,  as  the  causes  of 
his  arrival  are  the  same  in  all  places,  so  will,  I  apprehend,  be  the 
signs  of  his  coming  also. 

The  next  observation  that  I  would  make  in  this  place,  is  to 
guard  the  sportsman,  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  from 
placing  the  slightest  reliance  on  the  maxims,  advice  or  opinions 
promulgated,  even  in  the  best  sporting  books  published  in  Eng- 
land, concerning  the  Snipe,  or  its  congener  the  Woodcock. 

The  birds  are  in  every  respect  different  from  the  European 
species,  as  to  their  habits,  haunts  and  seasons ;  and  one  point  of 
difference  alone  is  sufficient  to  render  all  that  is  laid  down  with 
regard  to  the  manner  of  hunting  them  there,  entirely  useless 
here.  There  they  are  winter,  here  more  or  less  summer,  birds  of 
passage;  so  that  the  localities  which  they  frequent  in  the  two 
hemispheres  are  of  course  nearly  opposite. 

Not  an  English  book  but  will  tell  you,  and  tell  you  tnily,  as 


u» 


FBAKlt   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


regard,  ,h.  E„gh,h  Snipe,  that  the  most  favorable  weather  for 
the  sport  «  dark,  blowing,  drizzling  days-the  very  worst  co" 
cetvable  for  our  bird  ;  which  is  apt  to  be  as  wild  Ja  HalkTn 
w.„d       e„h         ^i,^i^  will  sometimes  lie  till  it  is  difficllt" 

b;  "f  rrno'f  •  "^™' ""-"  ''="■  -'*  "•»  -'-^  '-'-^• 

In  the  first  place,  observe,  as  regards  the  arrival  of  Snipe  on 
be  meadows,  that  i,  matters  not  how  fair  and  mild  and  wa™ 

o  .U^lZl ";'  -r'  ""^ ^^-  '■"■"-y  O'^".  overhead 
not  a  btrd  w.ll  be  found  until  die  subterranean  frost  and  ice  havj 
been  enttrely  dissipated  ,  which  is  rarely  the  case  until  after  a 

^jedays'stonn  of  rain,  withastiff  easterly  blow.succeeded,; 
soft,  spnng-hke  weather.  ' 

Jtrl-  'T  ^°  """*"''  """•  ™  ■"o™'^  "»''  bog  -oadows, 
whether  fresh  or  sat,  the  underground  frost  lasts  much  longe 
unthawedthan  .t  does  on  the  uplands.    In  one  instance,  I'rl 
member  findmg  all  the  meadows  as  hard  as  ice  below  some  six 
.nches  of  soft  mud,  when  the  frost  had  disappeared  fman^ 

.n  the  burstmg  buds  and  springing  grass.    Of  course  not  a  bird 
was  to  be  found. 

little  Blue-Bxrd ;  and  so  soon  as  he  has  taken  up  his  residence 
with  us,  and  commenced  cleaning  out  his  accustomed  box,  or  pre- 
paring  materials  for  his  nest  in  the  hole  of  a  decayed  apple-tree 
we  may  be  sure  that  the  Snipe  is  not  far  distant.  WTien  the 
buds  of  the  willow  trees  display  their  yellowish  verdure,  and  the 
chxrpmg  croak  of  the  frogs  rises  from  every  swampy  pond,  we 
may  ieel  confident  that  he  is  to  be  found  on  the  meadows  ;  but 
not  until  the  Shad  is  abundant  at  the  mouths  of  our  rivers,  is  the 
bnipe  plentiful  on  the  inland  morasses. 

On  his  first  arrival,  he  generally  hangs  for  two  or  three  days 
m  small  whisps,  or,  ofteneryet,  scattered  individually,  along  the 
salt  meadows  on  the  coast,  especially  in  places  where  fresh 
spnngs  boil  up  from  the  ground,  or  spring-brooks  trickle  down 
trom  the  upland. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


143 


At  such  times,  a  few  straggling  birds  may  be  picked  up  on 
the  south  side  of  Long  Island,  where  the  trout-streams,  below 
the  pond-dams,  overflow  the  salt  meadows,  before  a  solitary 
Snipe  has  appeared  inland.  Tlien  the  salt  marshes  about  the 
mouths  of  the  Raritan,  the  Hackensac,  and  the  Passaic,  attract 
them  in  turn  for  a  few  days  ;  after  which  they  gradually  ascend 
the  courses  of  those  streams  to  the  great  tracts  of  morass  and 
bog-meadow,  which  are  spread  out  for  leagues,  the  very  Para- 
dise of  the  Snipe-shooter,  especially  about  the  last-named  river. 
Here,  if  the  weather  is  favorable  and  settled,  they  remain  for 
many  weeks  ;  and  may  be  pursued  with  much  success  and  sport, 
by  the  skilful  sportsman,  whatever  may  be  the  nature  of  the  day, 
unless  it  has  been  preceded  by  a  very  sharp  frost. 

The  most  favorable  time  is,  undoubtedly,  the  first  fine  warm 
day  after  a  long,  easterly  rain-storm  ;  and,  so  thoroughly  am  I 
convinced  of  this  fact,  that  for  many  seasons,  while  resident  in 
New  York,  it  was  my  habit  to  order  my  horses,  and  set  out  on 
the  third  day  of  a  north-eastern  storm,  if  the  sky  showed  the 
slightest  prospect  of  clearing,  before  the  rain  had  in  the  least 
abated.  It  has  more  than  once  happened  to  me,  thus  setting  off 
late  in  the  evening,  while  it  was  yet  raining,  to  see  the  sky  gra- 
dually clear  up,  and  to  hear  the  shrill  squeak  of  the  Snipe  travel- 
ling overhead  faster  than  myself,  though  in  the  same  direction, 
before  reaching  my  shooting-ground,  scarce  twenty  miles  distant ; 
and  I  have  been  amply  rewarded  for  mj'  trouble  by  an  excellent 
and  undisturbed  day's  sport,  over  meadows  well  stocked  with 
birds,  and  as  yet  virgin  of  gunners. 

In  such  cases,  it  will  often,  however,  happen  that  the  weather 
on  the  one  or  more  days  which  can  be  spared  for  shooting,  proves 
wild,  windy  and  unfavorable  ;  yet  the  sportsman  who  has  trav- 
elled from  a  distance  must  take  it  as  he  finds  it — if  he  reside  on 
the  spot  he  can,  and  of  course  will,  pick  his  own  days  ;  which,  it 
he  be  wise,  will  be  those  soft,  moist,  silvery  mornings,  which  so 
often  follow  slight  hoar-frosts,  when  the  heaven  is  covered  with 
the  thinnest  filmy  haze,  through  which  the  sunbeams  are  poured 
down  warm  but  mellow,  and  when  there  is  just  enough  of  low 


m 


b  '111 


5g»--»l.-Hfe»» 


144 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


southerly  wind  abroad  to  dry  the  herbage  and  to  give  the  dogs  a 
chance  of  scenting  their  game. 

As  the  stranger  cannot  thus  choose,  it  is  most  important  that 
he  should  know  how  to  make  the  best  of  bad  circumstances  ;  for 
even  m  the  worst  weather,  if  there  be  birds  at  all  upon  his  range 
knowing  his  ground  and  the  habits  of  his  bird,  he  will  be  aole' 
nme  times  out  of  ten,  to  make  a  fair  day's  work.  ' 

I  once  shot  three  successive  days  over  the  Long  Meadow, 
Lewises  the  Troy  and  Parsippany  Meadows,  from  Pine  Brook, 
with  a  friend,  in  the  very  worst  weather  I  ever  saw  for  Snipe- 
shooting-dry,  keen,  cutting  north-easters,  with  the  dust  flyL 
one  half  hour,  and  the  sun  shining  clear  but  cold,  and  hailstones 
pelting  down  the  next.     The  birds  were,  of  course,  as  wild  as 
can  be  imagined  ;  drumming  high  up  in  the  air,  and  performing, 
all  kinds  of  unusual  antics  ;  yet,  by  dint  of  good  dogs,  desperate 
fagging,  and  a  perfect  knowledge  of  our  ground,  we  picked  up 
sixty-two  couple  of  Snipe,  besides  a  few  Duck,  in  the  course 
ot  three  days. 

No  great  work,  it  is  true,  nor  much  to  boast  of;  but,  mark  me 
»ot«-during  those  same  three  days,  two  other  gentlemen,  as  good 
shots  as  ourselves,  perhaps  better,  beat  the  same  meadows,  put- 
ting up  at  the  rival  tavern,  and  hunting  .o  exactly  the  same  line 
of  country  with  ourselves,  that  we  met  and  conversed  with  them 
more  than  once  each  day.      These  gentlemen  bagged,  in  all 
eleven  Sr.pe  and  a  Sandpiper;  and  that  for  the  simplest  reason 
imagmablo-they  did  not  know  where  to  look  for  Snipe  in  wild 
weather,  while  we  did. 

It  is,  of  course,  unnecessary  to  tell  any  person  acquainted  with 
the  first  elements  of  Shooting,  that  the  Snipe  feeds,  not  on  sue 
tion,  but  on  small  worms  and  other  insects,  which  he  collects  by 
boring  ,n  moist  earth  with  his  long  sensitive  bill.  His  favorite 
feeding-grounds  are,  therefore,  soft,  sloppy  tracts,  where  the  soil 
IS  rich  vegetable  loam,  or  bog-earth,  interspersed  with  springs, 
and  sparsely  covered  with  low,  succulent  grasses  ;-enrth,  from 
the  s^urface  of  which  the  waters  have  recentlv  subsided,  and  on 
Which  a  muddy,  rust-colored  scum  has  been  deposited,  on  their 


PPLAND   SHOOTING. 


Ud 


subsidence  or  evaporation,  abounds  with  food  of  the  kind  they 
most  rehsh  ;  and  in  such  places  they  are  often  seen  to  feed.  But 
m  such,  as  the  ground  is  either  bare  or  but  sparsely  covered,  they 
will  rarely  he,  so  as  to  afford  sport,  until  late  in  the  season,  when 
the  young  grass  has  acquired  some  height-when  the  sun  has 
gamed  power,  and  repose  and  epicurean  habits  have  rendered  the 
J>nipe  tame  and  lazy. 

If,  however,  we  can  find  ground  such  as  I  have  described,  inter- 
spersed w.th  tussocky  bogs  and  tufts  of  long  grass,  affording  shelter 
to  he  b:rds,  ,nto  which  they  will  run,  and  among  which  they 
will  skulk  m  ordinary  weather,  so  soon  as  they  discover  the  ap^ 
proach  of  mtruders,  the  chance  of  sport  will  be  very  considerable 

m  cold  dry  winds,  however,  the  birds  will  nni  evon  feed 
much  less  he  to  the  dog,  on  such  ground  ;  and  consequently  we 
must  m  such  weather  look  for  them  in  very  different  places; 
places,  indeed,  m  which  no  books  of  natural  history,  that  I  know 

tie?   ,        r  ''  "''  '''"'  ^"'  '"  ^^"^^  ^'  -h^ 'h  ^he  authol' 
ties  tell  us  they  are  never  to  be  found. 

But,  to  proceed  in  order;  the  Snipe  when  flushed  «e.er  rises, 
down  .    d  the  resistance  of  the  air  appearing  to  be  necelar"^ 
e.ab  e  him  to  get  under  way.    On  his  first  rising,  which  he  does 
for  the  most  part  about  breast-high,  he  hangs  on  the  air  a  little 
before  he  gathers  wing,  and  then  darts  away  „;,  wind,  if  possible' 
If  not,  across  wind,  tack  and  tack,  with  extreme  rapidity,  and 
w.th  a. g-zag  flight,  which  renders  them  puzzling  object  to  a 
begmner.     I  think,  however,  that  to  a  person  accustomed  to  their 
motions,  they  are  as  easy  a  bird  to  kill  as  any  that  flies      Mr 
Audubon  states,  in  allusion  to  this  supposed  difficulty  of  killi„. 
Snipe,  that  he  who  can  kill  thirty  in  succession,  without  missing 
one  IS  a  good  hand  at  any  kind  of  shooting.     I  suppose  Mr 
Audubon  IS  speaking  ironically;    for  if  by  can  kill,  he   means 
habitually,  or  even  frequently  kills,  he  speaks  of  an  impossibility 
No  man  ever  lived  who  could  kill,  in  that  sense,  either  thirty 
Snipe,  or  thirty  of  any  other  bird  that  flies,  in  succession      I 
have  seen  many  crack  shots  in  my  life,  both  here  and  in  Eng- 
land ;  but  I  never  saw  the  man,  and  never  expect  to  see  him 


VOL.  I. 


10 


'»    : 


I'M  I 


MM! 


r^wmBK0Ht^SbmKmmmimm 


146 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


who,  shooting  at  every  bird  that  rises  in  distance,  can  kill  four  out 
of  five  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  day  in  and  day 
out.  He  who  bags  three  out  of  five,  in  covert  and  out  of  covert, 
from  March  Snipe  to  December  Quail,  is  a  top-sawyer ;  and 
can  hold  his  own  anywhere,  and  against  any  one. 

Some  men  may  perhaps  kill  twenty  shots  in  succession,  picked 
out  of  fifty  birds  which  ought  to  have  been  shot  at ;  but  my  word 
for  it,  they  will  get  easily  beaten  by  the  man  who  pretends  to  no 
such  feat,  but  who  pulls  his  trigger,  whenever  there  is  a  chance 
of  killing. 

The  real  test  of  shooting,  no  less  than  of  sportsmanship,  is  the 
finding  and  bagging  the  greatest  number  of  birds  within  a  given 
Ume,  without  the  smallest  reference  to  the  number  of  shots  fired. 

The  surest  of  all  M-ays  to  ensure  the  never  becoming  a  good 
shot,  is  to  be  afraid  of  missing.     Shoot  at  everything  that  rises 
within  distance,  remembering  always,  as  an  old  Yorkshire  game- 
keeper, by  whose  side  I  bagged  by  first  Snipe  some  eight-and- 
twenty  years  ago,  was  wont  to  admonish  me,  that  t'  Snaipe  was 
i'  t'  maist  danger.     If  you  miss,  say  with  Jacob  Faithful,  "bet- 
ter luck  next  time,"  and  endeavor  to  observe  and  remember  how 
and  why  you  missed  him  ;  whether  you  shot  above,  below,  or  to 
the  right  or  left  of  him  ;  this  will  give  you  steadiness  and  cool- 
ness it  first ;  and,  when  you  succeed  in  remembering,  will  have 
done  much  already  toward  preventing  you   from  missincr   fair 
shots  at  least.     For  the  rest,  birds  will  dodge,  at  times,  just  when 
the  trigger  is  drawn  ;  boughs  will  be  in  the  way;  the  sun  will 
shme  in  the  face  of  the  best  shots— moreover,  the  steadiest  nerves 
will  sometimes  be  shaken  or  unstrung,  and  the  quickest  finger 
will  be  a  thumb  on  some  days  to  the  best  sportsman. 

I  know  a  right  good  shot,  and  a  good  sportsman  too,  and  a 
good  friend  of  mine  to  boot,  who  does  not  pretend  to  kill  quite 
three  out  of  five,  year  in  and  year  out ;  but  who  is  wont  to  say, 
which  is  very  wrong  of  him,  though  I  believe  perfectly  true,  that 
he'll  be  d— d  if  he  can't  beat  any  man,  who  can  kill  twenty  shots 
in  succession. 
So  much  for  thine  encouragement,  my  young  beginner. 


(iood 

more,  c 

from  sa 

did,  nor 

This, 

of  Game 

digressio 

moment 

he  utters 

with  him 

gathers  a 

shoot  thi 

of  time  in 

the  trigge 

shoulder. 

The  ol 

twisting, 

stuflf,  like 

raising  th 

baiTelled 

Would  km 

in  success! 

was  painfi 

quickest  b 

Anothei 

the  best  d( 

slow  Point 

lieve,  nine 

could  be  bi 

or  Water  ^ 

the  dead  oi 

slow  gunnii 

The  best 

money — thi 

Setters,  for 

but  Pointer 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


117 


fill 

I'll  I'  !' 

ill 


more,  even  ,„  thick  covert;  but  that  is  a  very  different  thin, 
from  saying  can  kill  them.     That    I  am  s^iilJ  ^ 

did,  nor  ever  will  do.  '  ^'^  °°  """"  ^^^"^ 

dtresln    Mr    A  .'  K       "'""'  "^"'^  '^^^  ^^^  "^«  *«  ^^^  ''ttle 
aigression,  Mr    Audubon  remarks   that  he  has  fonnrl  iU.  ^.    ! 

h    uteer,  h«  peculiar  .hrill  .,u.ak  ;  .„d  i\us  I  perfecZg^t 

fhlnHl,    Y  '/         ""  """"""'^  """  ">e  mo,t  killing  way  to 
oft,™  in  wh,ch  he  hang,  on  the  wind-that  is  to  sav  to  nuD 

Lir ""'"'  '"'"■"  *»  ^"'""--  ^-  'our  ,r 

The  old  school  method  was  to  wait  tiU  the  bird  had  done 

toff  r!'  Tt""  "'  """^  '""^  ^"'*  "«'— i   "u,  aVtha 

™«mg  the  gun,  was  well  enough  for  the  days  of  W  ainrie^ 

bart^elled  g„ns  with  flint  locks.    A  good  shot  of  the  prird  t 

would  knock  over  his  dozen  couple  of  right  and  left'^h'^t^ 

waspamfullyp,ck,.gup  his  half  dozen.     Ca,teru  paHiu.   the 
quickest  shot  is  the  best  shot. 

Anodier  maxim  of  the  same  age  and  the  same  school  is,  that 
flie  best  dog  over  which  to  shoot  Snipe  is  an  old  broken-d^wn 
low  Pointer-perhaps  ha  i,  for  a  pot-hunter!    Indeed   I  12 
heve,  nme  times  out    of  ten    n«  ^,„„  i,-  j  7 

could  be  bagged  without  a  dog  at  all ,  „r  with  a  Newfoundland 
or  Water  Spaniel,  kept  entirely  at  heel,  and  only  used  to   "trie  e 

The  best  dog»  for  Snipe  are  the  best  dogs  that  can  be  got  for 

Setteis  for  my  use,  seeing  that  I  prefer  them  for  all  purposes  • 
but  Pointers,  if  you  will.  »'  purposes , 


i 


148 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


If  they  be  staunch,  and  have  good  noses,  and  back  well,  and 
drop  to  shot,  where  they  are,  without  stirring  from  the  spot,  and 
without  being  shouted  at,  they  cannot  be  too  fast ;  and,  if  they 
wi:I  not  do  these  things,  it  matters  not  -hether  they  be  fast  or 
slow — they  are  worthless. 

The  most  effective-sized  shot  for  Snipe  shooting  is  unquestion- 
ably  No    8.     With  coarser  shot,  the  charge  will  be  so  much 
dispersed  that  so  small  a  bird  as  the  Snipe  will  constantly 
escape   being  hit,  even  when  covered  fairly;    with  smaller, 
birds  will  continually  be  wounded  only,  within  point  blank 
distance;    and   will    frequently  go  away   entirely   unharmed. 
Farther  than  this,  it  is  very  rare  to  find  a  lever-topped  belt  or 
flask-which  IS  by  far  the  best  implement  for  canying  shot- 
that  will  not  suffer  any  shot  smaller  than  No.  8  to  escape,  even 
when  the  spring  is  down. 

Mauy  Ens&h  writem,  I  observe,  recommeml  the  use  ef  two 
d.ffe,ent  ,„ed  ki„d  of  .hot,  „„e  in  ei.he,-  l,„r,el ,  l,„t  thi,  is,  i„ 
my  op,„,on,  neither  sportsmanlike  nor  effecve.  In  all  events 
he  barrels  of  a  gnn  ought  to  be  fired  alternately,  otherwise,' 
«  fi-e  smgle  shots  are  fired  for  one  double,  one  ba,™l  will  be 
worn  out  wb.le  the  other  is,  con,,>aratively  speaking,  new.  Mv 
own  expertence  ha,  taught  me  that  for  all  our  Upland  shootin/ 
except  tha,  of  the  Pinnated  Grouse,  at  all  seasons  of  Z"2 

Teart-n     nf  "  "'°"'-»'"'«™8  S'™.  P™perl,  brought  to 

bea.,  w,Il  nddle  Us  targe,  thoroughly  at  the  same  distance.    All 
hat  ,.  gamed  ,,  weight  and  power  by  the  nse  of  larger  shot  is 
ost  ,n  the  condensation  of  a  charge.     This  will  be  e.Sly  uX. 
s.oo,l  when  the  reader  i,  informed  tha,  an  ounce  of  No  8  shot 
cont.,„s  s,x  hundred  grains,  or  pellets,  while  No.  7  contains  1„ 
rtree  hundred   and  f-„rty-„„e,   so  that  at  the  same  di„an  e 
wttb  tl.e  same  gun,  the  chances  are  nearly  as  two  to  one  in 
favor  of  h,t..ng  a  small  mart  with  No.  8  over  the  yJ,JlZ 
.be  greater  the  d.stance,  the  greater  the  advantage  in  th.^     '  e  ,' 
•f  the  smaller  pellets,  inasmuch  as  all  sho.  fre  ptope  e    o„ 


DPLAND  SHOOTINO. 


liU 


tliverging  lines;    and  consequently,  the  longer  the  range  the 
greater  will  be  the  interval  between  the  grains. 

When  birds  are  very  wild,  however,  I  strongly  recommend 
the  use  of  Eley's  wire  cartridges,  of  the  same  No.  8  shot,  which 
I  consider  an  invention  in  gunnery  second  only  to  percussion 
I  will  state  here  briefly,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  not 
seen  this  missile,  that  the  object  of  the  contrivance  is  to  propel 
the  charge,  like  a  single  ball,  for  some  fifteen  or  more  yards 
from  the  gun's  muzzle.     After  this  distance  the  case  bursts,  and 
the  shot  diverges  as  in  an  ordinary  charge.     The  gain,  there- 
fore,  in  distance,  is  precisely  that  to  which  the  case  is  driven 
unbroken.     This  differs  in  the  three  different  kinds  of  cart-  > 
ridges,  blue,  red,  and  green.     The  last  of  these  must  never  be 
used,  except  in  fowl-shooting  on  the  bays,  as  the  range  is  pro- 
digious,  and  on  Upland  dangerous.      The  blue,  which  is  the 
common  kind,  will  increase  the  range  of  every  gun,  in  close- 
ness as   in  strength,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  yards;  and  the  red 
from  twenty  to  forty.     The  more  heavily  you    charge   with 
powder,  the  more  closely  will  the  cartridge  carry  ;  the  converse 
of  this  proposition  being  true  of  loose  shot. 

It  is  useless,  however,  for  any  person  to  use  Eley's  cartridge, 
who  is  not  cool  enough  to  let  a  bird,  which  gets  up  under  his 
feet,  go  away  twenty  yards  before  firing  at  him ;  and  who 
cannot  shoot  well  enough  to  kill  at  forty,  with  an  exceedingly 
close  canying  gun.  I  have  shot  Snipe,  when  very  wild,  and 
Quail  in  open  ground,  very  late  in  the  season,  with  blue  cart- 
ridges in  my  first,  and  red  in  my  second  banel,  and  that  with 
great  success.  I  would,  however,  prefer  the  use  of  loose  shot 
and  a  blue  cartridge. 

With  regard  to  dress,  it  may  be  well  here  to  say  a  word  or 
two  ;  for  Snipe  shooting  is  a  difficult  and  dirty  business,  as  far 
as  the  walking  is  conceraed,  and  requires  an  athletic  frame, 
and  a  hardy  constitution.  .For  my  own  part,  I  have  never 
found  any  contrivance  succeed  in  keeping  the  feet  dry ;  for  a 
siiin^le  fall,  or  heavy  splash,  things  of  common  occurrence,  will 
fill  the  tops  of  the  longest  and  most  secure  water-proof  boots; 


100 


FRANK    FORESTKR's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Indian  rubber  is  an  abomination ;  aa,  if  it  excludes  water,  it 
also  excludes-  air,  prevents  ventilation,  and  enclosing  all  the 
exudations  and  transpirations  of  the  pores,  is   equally  uncom- 
fortable, unwholesome,  and  filthy.     The  moment  boots  are  full 
of  water,    they  are  a  dead  weight,  and  of  course  a  disadvan- 
tage  ;  I  have,  therefore,  in  all  ordinary  ground,  long  abandoned 
the  attempt  to  keep  dry ;  and  invariably  use  laced  ancle  boots 
of  heavy  cowhide,  for  all  sorts  of  sporting.     These  may  be  worn 
either  with  short  gaiters  and  trousers ;    or,  what  I  consider 
in  every  particular  superior,  and  especially  in  the  facility,  they 
give  to  movement  in  encumbered  ground,  or  among  brushwood 
and  stumps,  knee-breeches,  and  leathern  leggins,  buttoned  on 
the  outside.     The  breeches  may  be  made  of  corduroy  or  fus- 
tian for  spring  and   winter,  of  duck   or  drilling  for  summer 
shooting  ;  and,  if  made  long  and  loose  from  the  hip  to  the  knee, 
I  believe  no  walker  who  has  once  adopted  them  in  this  climate' 
will  ever  return  to  heavy  boots  and  trousers. 

If,  however,  the  Snipe-shooter  is  determined  on  endeavoring 
to  keep  himself  dry,  he  had  better  provide  himself  with  long 
boots  from   Canada,  which  he  can  procure,  perfectly  water- 
proof  and  of  excellent  quality,  of  any  maker  in  Montreal  or 
Quebec,  for  eight  dollars  a  pair ;  whereas  the  same,  not  equal- 
ly  well-made,  would  cost  him  double  the  price,  in  New- York. 
I  will  here,  farther  state,  that  Mr.  Cullen,   No.   119   Broad- 
way, New- York,  is  the  oAly  workman  on  this  side  the  Atlantic, 
whom  I  know,  that  can  turn  out  a  real- working-shooting-boot 
or  shoe. 

If  you  adopt  my  plan,  reader  mine,  you  must  make  up  your 
mmd  to  get  wet  through  in  five  minutes  after  going  out,  and  to 
continue  wet  through,  until  your  return  home  at  night ;  but  be- 
lieve me,  as  in  many  other  cases,  ce  n'cst  que  le  premier  pas  qui 
cmte,  the  first  shock  is  all  that  you  have  to  dread ;  the  water 
within  the  shoe  immediately  becomes  warm,  by  contact  with 
the  foot,  and  you  think  no  more  about  it,  after  five  minutes; 
while  in  a  long  day's  fag  the  absence  of  the  heavy,  dragging 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


161 


watcr-!o^ged  jack-boots  will  make  a  difference  in  favor  of  yotir 
comforts,  that  words  can  hardly  describe. 

About  a  shooting-jacket,  I  have  only  to  say  that  it  cannot  be 
too  easy,  or  have  too  many  pockets.  For  material,  every  man 
has  his  own  fancy  ;  I  2)refor  strong  corduroy  for  winter,  and 
drilling  or  Russia  duck  for  summer.  Game-pockets  filling  the 
whole  inside  of  both  skirts  will  be  found  to  carry  a  large  bag 
with  much  less  exertion  to  the  sportsman,  than  the  ordinary 
game-bag. 

A  low-crowned,  broad-brimmed  hat  is  as  good  for  ojxn  shoot- 
ing as  any  other  head  gear  ;  but  for  covert  work,  a  close  skull- 
cap, with  a  long  peak,  is  the  thing. 

The  best  preparation  for  keeping  boots,  or  leathern  leggins, 
soft,  is  currier's  dubbing,  which  can  be  procured  of  any  tanner. 
The  best  water  dressing  is  equal  parts  of  tar,  tallow,  and  Venice 
turpentine,  melted  together  in  an  earthen  pipkin,  and  brushed 
slowly  and  gradually  into  the  leather,  before  a  slow  fire,  with  a 
painter's  sash-tool.  This  should  be  repeated  every  time  the 
boots  are  used  ;  and  it  is  well  to  observe  that  sun-heat  is  far  su- 
perior to  fire-heat  for  the  drying  of  wet  boots  ;  and  that  it 
is  scarcely  possible  to  dry  saturated  leather  too  slowly. 

These  short  memoranda,  with  regard  to  dress,  will  do  once 
for  all ;  they  are  equally  applicable  to  all  seasons  and  sports, 
and  I  am  not  aware  that  anything  more  of  real  advantage  could 
be  said  in  a  volume  on  this  subject 

Now  fully  equipped  with  all  things  necessary  for  our  sport, 
we  will  take  the  field  ;  and  supposing  the  morning  to  be  flivor- 
able,  with  a  light  breeze  from  the  south-westward,  the  sky  sunny, 
yet  shadowed  by  floating  clouds,  the  herbage  underfoot  drij,  but 
the  soil  moist  and  succulent,  we  may  make  sure  of  sport. 

In  the  first  place  we  will  begin  to  beat,  and  persist  in  beating 
our  ground  down-wind,  even  if  we  have  to  make  a  large  and  te- 
dious circuit  in  order  to  do  so.  The  advantage  of  this,  arising 
from  the  habit  of  the  Snipe,  before  mentioned,  of  rising  invana- 
hhj  up-wind,  is  that  the  wild  birds  will  be  compelled  to  cross  us 


16S 


THANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


to  the  ritrht  or  loft,  affording  much  closer  and  oo-^r  uh^' .  than 
>r  wo  hunt  thorn  in  the  ordinary  manner 

T  a,n  awaro  that  thoro  in  an  objection  to  this,  in  the  fact  that 
tho  do,,  .n  some  decree  lose  the  favor  of  the  wind  ;  hut  dogs 
p. ;.  -ly  broken  to  this  sport,  should  ,ua.ter  their  .ri.un.l  r    fu.' 
" ly  Lnloro  y,.,,  working  with  their  noses  up-wind.  and  crol 
.  .  an    rccrosHing  at  every  forty  or  fifty  yard's,  and  wi    fi  a  I 
d.fhculty  m  pomting  such  birds  as  will  lie  to  them 

ins  wonderful  how  easily  dogs,  which  are  always  shot  over 
J  he  same  man-he  being  one  who  knows  his  b^iness-wil 
learn  to  cross  and  requaiter  their  ground,  turning  to  the  slilt 

thevt        tfV:.''^"  ""^'^^   ^°^"'''^  their  master's  eye.   f 

old  ,ed    nsh  setter,  which  had  been  stone-deaf  for  his  two  las" 

eas        b  ,  .Hich  I  found  no  more  difficulty  in  tu^:!  rt  an 

any  other  dog.  so  accurately  did  he  know  when  to  look  L  the 

un7noM"  t"^  ''"'  '"r  ^'"'"^'^  ^^^^  "  ^«  by  h'«  ™-t«r's  will, 
and  not  by  his  own,  that  he  is  to  beat  his  ground,  it  is  extraor 
dmary  how  eagerly  he  willconsult.  and  how  readily  he  wil  ^oon 
come  to  perceive,  his  pleasure.  ^  " 

and  ^r  '"^T^'y  '^''-<^'^-  two  modes  of  shooting  Snipe,  up 
a  !./«.«  wmd  ;  and  thatwithdogs  of  all  kinds  and  cond  tij 
-1  T  have  no    es.tation  in  declaring  my  conviction,  that  by  work 

vhe  IXS  .r^''^^  ^"  '"^'y  -"^  -^  ^-y  -n  Jy  weather. 
When  b,rds  he  the  worst,  one-third  more  shots  may  be  got  and 

oube  the  number  of  birds  killed,  than  by  giving  ^our  dogs  a^ 

no    :  :^    :  "•"'  '"/^^'^  "--•     I"  the  latter  mode.';  is 

pointin  J  an     ""'^ ^      ^^^  -"^--"y  drawing,  and  perhaps 

seeing  hL  '  '  "'^'  ""'  ^^^  ^'''^''^^'  ^nd  of 

Ten  vorir^""^^-^^  "  away  up-wind.  at  a  rate  which  sets 
even  your  blue  cartridge  at  defiance. 

yofrsdflf """";"''  "  '''  -"^-^y^the  birds,  headed  by 
yourself  and  your  dog.  are  likely  enough  to  got  confused   and 


tTPLAND   SHOOTING. 


16$ 


t    I 


bothered,  and  to  lio  hard ;  and  ovon  if  your  Bottor  or  pointer  do 
nin  m  upon  two  or  throe,  in  a  day's  shooting,  tho  <,dclH  aro,  us 
Snipo-Bhooting  is  always  more  or  less  *««/.  shooting,  that  you 
will  got  a  long  cross  shot  at  those,  and  perhaps  bag  them  ;  and 
at  all  events,  for  every  bird  you  lose  thus,  you  will  lose  four 
which  will  whistle  away  unshot  at,  dead  in  tho  wind's  eye,  if 
you  beat  up-wind. 

I  had  once  an  actual  trial  of  this  kind  accidentally,  and  on  my 
part  unconsciously,  with  a  rather  famous  English  dog-breaker 
and  market  shooter,  on  the  Big  Piece,  a  superb  and  very  exten- 
«vo  tract  of  Snipe-meadow,  just  above  the  Little  Falls,  on  the 
Passn.c,  tho  result  of  which  I  will  mention  as  tending  to  exem- 
phfy  the  fict  I  have  been  insisting  on. 

I  did  not  at  the  time  know  this  fellow,  tliough  subsecjuently  I 
have  kn(,wn  him  to  my  cost ;  though  I  afterwards  heard  that  he 
was  acquainted  with  my  person,  and  had  made  some  small  bet, 
or  other,  on  beating  my  bag;  which,  but  for  his  want  of  know- 
ledge on  this  point,  he  would  have  done,  for  I  believe  he  is  a 
better  shot,  and  he  had  decidedly  bettor  dogs  than  I  on  that  day; 
the  best  of  which  became  mine  in  consequence. 

It  was  a  very  wild  morning,  indeed,  early  in  April,  the  wind 
blowing  almost  a  gale  from  the  westward  ;  and  immediately  on 
entering  the  meadow,  I  perceived  a  man  in  a  black  velveteen 
jacket  with  three  very  fine  dogs,  one  the  red  setter  I  have 
named  before,  beating  up-wind  at  some  three  hundred  yards 
distant  I  sot  to  work  after  my  own  way,  and  so  we  perse- 
vered all  day  long,  he  beating  up,  nnd  I  down  wind,  often  within 
a  hundred  yards'  distance.  There  were  a  great  many  birds  on 
the  ground,  and  I  had  very  fair  shooting,  getting  at  least  three 
shots  to  his  two,  and  those  much  fairer  sliots  ;  in  proof  of  which 
I  may  observe,  that  I  killed  three  or  four  double  shots  during 
the  day,  while  he  did  not  Jire  one.  At  about  four  in  the  aftei^ 
noon  we  parted  company,  not  having  interchanged  speech,  and 
I  thought  no  more  about  him  until  I  returned  to  mine  inn,  when  I 

earned  that  D had  called  to  inquire  how  many  birds  I  had 

kil.ed,  and  expressed  his  wonder  that  a  person  who.  as  he  was 


154 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


fhnTi'?  ""7'V"  '"^'  ^'^  ''"'"  '"""''''^''^  ^^«-t  shooting, 
should  be  such  a  flat  as  to  shoot  Snipe  doum-mnd.     In  the  even 

ing  he  came  into  the  bar-room,  and  there  found,  first  of  all,  that 

I  had  beaten    „m  by  some  half-dozen  birds,  which  he  said  he 

expected  ;  and,  secondly,  that  it  was  for  a  reason,  and  not  for 

the  want  of  one,  that  I  shot  Snipe  down-wind.     He  admitted  at 

once  that  he  saw  throughout  the  day  that  I  was  getting  more 

and  better  shots  than  he,  whereat  he  marvelled,  seeing  h!  knew 

hxmself  better  dogged  than  I ;  but  that  he  still  marvelled  why 

I  should  shoot  down-wind.     He  was,  however,  open  to  convic- 

s;;;!:;: ''''''-'  -"  ^^^^^  ^^  ^-^-^  ^  --» -  .-for 

Double  shots  at  Snipe  are  by  no  means  uncommon-com- 
moner, I  thmk,  than  at  any  other  species  of  gamc-for  although 
as  a  general  rule  the  snipe  is  a  solitary  bird,  both  in  his  habits' 
of  fligh   and  feedmg,  and  acts  independently  of  his  neighbors, 
you  wm  usually  find  numbers  of  them  feeding  nearly  together 
andn  earl         ,^,,„^^ 

X  flv  off  t  ,^^«%^-^-^--s,  however,  th.y  do  not  usu- 
ally fly  off  together,  hke  a  bevy  of  quail,  or  a  plump  of  wild 
fowl,  but  scatter,  each  at  his  own  will.  Now  as  the  wildest 
birds  always  spnng  first,  it  often  happens  that  your  discharge,  at 
a  long  shot,  flushes  another  much  nearer  by ;  I  therefore  strongly 
urge  zt  on  begmners  to  be  a  Httle  patient,  and  not  to  blaze  away 
botk  barrels  m  succession  at  the  same  bird,  or  even  at  two  birds 
nearly  out  of  distance,  since  by  doing  so  they  will  very  often 
lose  a  good  chance  of  bagging  a  bird  close  at  hand 

It  IS,  moreover,  a  very  absurd  and  unsportsmanlike  practice 
to  fire  at  Snipe  out  of  shot,  yet  it  is  a  very  common  one.     The 
Snipe  18  a  very  small  bird,  and  offers,  particularly  when  flying 
directly  from  the  shooter,  an  inconceivably  small  target      It  is 
not  possible  that  one  can  be  killed,  with  anything  like  certainty 
at  above  fifty  yards,--I  name  an  extreme  limit.     Now,  in  ordU 
nary  weather,  the  odds  are  about  three  to  one,  that  a  bird  flushed 
and  not  uselessly-  shot  at,  at  this  distance,  will  alight  again  with-' 
m  three  or  four  hundred  yards,  or  upward,  and  perhaps  afford 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


155 


h  good  chance,  and  lie  to  a  point.  But  blaze  at  T  v  and  per- 
haps sting  him  with  a  stray  shot,  and  he  shall  fly  you  a  mile  at  a 
stretch  ;  besides  that,  your  shot  has  disturbed  the  meadow,  and 
perhaps  flushed  half-a-dozen  others.  Let  it  not  be  supposed, 
however,  that  I  would  incukate  slow  and  poking  shooting  ;  on 
the  contrary  I  abhor  it. 

The  most  unsportsmanlike  thing  that  a  man  can  do,  in  this 
line,  is  not  to  fire  at  a  bird,  when  there  is  a  reasonable  chance  of 
killing  it  ;  the  next,  is  to  fire  at  a  bird  when  there  is  not  a  rea- 
sonable chance  of  killing  it. 

Snipe-shooting  being  practised  ninety-nine  times  out  of  a 
hundred  in  perfectly  open  ground,  the  birds  can  be  marked  by 
an  experienced  hand  at  the  work,  to  a  ^reat  distance,  and  to  a 
great  nicety.  But  there  is  a  good  deal  of  knack  in  it  ;  an^  I 
hardly  ever  saw  a  countryman,  who  did  not  shoe  t,  who  did  mark 
even  decently.  An  ordinary  observer,  when  ho  loses  sight  of  a 
bird  flying  low,  is  apt  to  suppose  he  has  stopped  at  the  point 
where  he  last  saw  him,  a  conclusion  than  which  nothing  can  be 
more  erroneous. 

Every  bird  has  his  own  fashion  of  alighting  from  the  wing, 
and  that  of  the  Snipe  and  Woodcock  is  very  peculiar ;  they  both 
jerk  themselves  a  Httle  way  up  into  the  air,  make  a  short  turn, 
and  pitch  down  backward.  Once  noticed,  this  motion  cannot 
be  mistaken  ;  and  once  made,  you  may  be  sure  that  the  bird 
has  dropped.  All  that  remains  to  be  done  is  to  mark  the  place, 
so  as  to  find  it  again,  which  in  an  expanse  of  open  pasture  or 
meadow-land,  waving  with  even  grass,  or  covered  with  tufts  of 
rushes,  each  one  precisely  like  its  neighbor,  is  far  from  an  easy 
matter.  The  better  way  is  to  raise  the  eye  slowly  from  the  spot 
toward  the  horizon — in  case  the  ground  is  quite  devoid  of  any 
near  landmark  of  stump,  bush,  pool,  or  the  like — where  you  will 
be  nearly  sure  to  find  some  tree,  building,  hill-top,  or  other  emi- 
nent object,  which  you  may  bring  into  one  line  with  your  bird, 
after  which  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  finding  him. 

In  marking  dead  birds  within  a  near  range,  you  should  evei 
endeavor  to  fix  the  very  leaf,  or  branch,  or  bunch  of  grass,  on 


ill. . 
Ill  : 


f^^ 


1..    I 


iili^ 


156 


FRANK   forester's   FIEtD   SPORTS. 


Which  It  has  fallen  ;  and  I  have  found  it  a  good  plan,  on  step, 
pmg  HP  after  loading  to  look  for  your  game,  to  drop  your  hat. 
or  handkerchief,  on  that  which  you  conceive  to  be  the  exact 
spot ;  otherwise,  while  looking  round  among  the  grass,  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  lose  the  direction  altogether.     In  covert  shooting 
m  markmg  a  bird,  whether  shot  at  or  not,  which  flies  behind  a' 
brake,  impervious  to  the  sight,  cast  your  eye  quickly  forward  to 
the  next  opening,  a  little  above  the  line  of  the  bird's  flight  if  he 
18  rising,  or  below,  if  dropping  on  the  wing,  to  make  sJe  that 
he  does  not  pass  it.     If  a  killed  bird  is  hidden  from  you  by  the 
smoke  of  your  own  fire,  and  you  perceive  by  the  stream  of  fea- 
thers that  he  is  dead,  allow  a  little  for  the  speed  and  direction 
ol  his  flight,  which,  if  he  was  going  fast  when  stmck,  will  often 
throw  him  many  feet  forward  of  the  spot  where  the  shot  smote 
him.     The  shot  itself,  if  close  by  and  hard  hit,  will  at  times  pitch 
him  a  yard  or  two  out  of  his  course. 

A  Snipe  will  sometimes,  but  not  generally,  carry  away  a  good 
many  shot ;  but  when  he  docs  so,  if  marked  down,  he  almost  in- 
vanably  rises  again.     Neither  he  nor  his  congener,  the  Wood- 
cock, IS  in  the  habit-so  common  with  the  Quail,  and  sometimes 
with  the  Ruffed  Grouse-of  flying  away  with  his  death-wound 
and  dying  before  ho  falls.     A  Quail  or  Grouse,  shot  through  the 
heart,  or  through  the  brain,  will  constantly  tower,  as  it  is  termed 
directly  up  into  the  mid-air,  with  a  perpendicular  flight    and 
quick  beating  of  the  wings,  which  are  kept  up  till  he  vital  spark 
leaves  the  bird  literally  in  the  air,  when  it  turns  over  on  its  back 
and  falls  hke  a  stone.      In  windy  weather  many  Quail  are  lost 
thus,  drifting  out  of  reach  ;  but  I  never  saw  this  occur  with  a 
Woodcock,  and  never  but  once  with  a  Snipe,  which  then  only 
flirted  up  a  {ew  feet,  with  an  expiring  effort. 
^  When,  therefore,  a  Snipe  goes  away  hard  hit,  mark  him  care- 
fully, and  approach  the  spot  stealthily,— it  is  all  a  toss-up  whe- 
ther  he  lies  like  a  stone,  or  whirls  up  at  sixty  paces,  when  he 
hears  you  coming.     But  however  hard  he  may  lie,  never  relax 
your  watchfulness,  or  put  your  gun  under  your  arm  or  over 
your  shoulder,  till  he  is  bagged.     I  have  seen  a  crippled  bird 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


167 


marked  to  a  square  yard,  get  away,  owing  to  the  conviction  of 
the  pursuers  that  he  was  dead,  after  the  ground  had  been  beaten 
to  and  fro  by  a  brace  of  capital  dogs,  and  trampled  all  over  by 
as  many  men  ;  and  I  should  like  to  know  what  can  be  more  pro- 
voking than  such  a  consummation. 

For  Snipe  shooting,  the  most  effective  party  that  I  can  Con- 
ceive, will  consist  of  two  men,  provided  that  they  are  sufficiently 
well  acquainted  each  with  the  other's  style  of  shooting  and  hunt- 
ing dogs,  to  work  well  together, — and  two  dogs,  both  belonging 
to  and  hunted  by  one  man.  In  this  case  the  sportsman  can 
hunt  their  dogs  alternate  days,  he  whose  turn  it  is  not  to  hunt 
carefully  abstaining  from  uttering  a  word,  or  making  a  gesture 
to  the  dogs. 

This,  of  course,  can  be  only  done  by  two  old  sportsmen,  who 
know  each  t>^e  other's  style  of  sporting,  and  will  consent  to 
give  and  take  mutually  something. 

The  advantage  gained  is  this,  that  a  brace  of  dogs,  used  to 
one  another,  knowing  one  another's  ways,  and  accustomed  to 
work  and  live  together,  will  do  twice  as  much,  and  five  times 
as  good  work,  as  a  pair  of  strangers,  jealous,  and  very  likely 
broken  in  to  different  styles  of  action. 

No  two  men  hunt  their  dogs  precisely  alike, — and,  conse- 
quently, no  two  strange  dogs,  hunted  by  two  different  strange 
men,  can  or  will  work  harmoniously  together.  If  each  man  in- 
sists on  hunting  his  own  dog  each  day,  the  men  will  have  bet- 
ter sport  by  hunting  singly.  But,  in  my  opinion,  one  man 
wants  a  brace  of  dogs  in  the  field, — and  yet  a  brace  of  dogs  are 
enough  for  two  men.  When  the  number  exceeds  two  guns, 
for  Snipe  shooting,  by  far  the  better  way  is  to  divide  into  two 
parties,  beating,  if  you  please,  in  sight  each  of  the  other,  and  so 
driving  the  birds  backward  and  forward, — but  not  sufficiently 
near  to  allow  the  dogs  to  mix,  or  become  jenlous. 

The  difficulty  of  getting  dogs  accustomed  to  different  styles 
of  sporting,  to  work  well  together,  will  be  evident  at  once,  if 
we  consider  that  one  sportsman  trains  his  dog  to  drop  to  shot 
where  he  is  when  the  shot  is  fired  ;  another,  to  come  in  before 


■•■■% 


i" 


*i 


TW^r'""»!W"^P"- 


158 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


woS  /;\    r  '"'*''' '"  ^''  '^"^  p"'"^^"^ '"« 'i-^d  birds 

before  fetchmg  the„.  ;  another  suffers  his  to  go  on  and  fetch  as 
soon  as  he  has  loaded  ;  and  yet  a  third  takes  no  i  eed  at  all.  but 
suffers  his  brute  to  rush  in  as  soon  as  the  gun  is  discharged. 

The  last  IS,  of  course,  a  barbarism,  to  which  no  one  worthy 
of  being  called  a  sportsman  will  resort ;  the  others  are  still  held 
to  be  mooted  points  ;  and  there  are  sportsmen  who  hold  to  both 
I  do  not  myself  admit  any  doubt  on  the  .  ibject ;  nor  do  I  esteem 
any  dog  broken,  which  does  not  drop  to  charge,  at  the  report 
without  stimng  from  the  place.-which  does  not  lie  at  charge' 
until  ordered  to  "hold  up."  and  which  does  not  point  his  dead 
game,  until  desired  to  "  fetch."     Still,  so  long  as  diversity  of 
opinion  exists  on  these  points,  and  dogs  are  broken  according 
to  the  good  or  bad  judgment  of  owners  and  breakers,  different 
animals  cannot  be  expected  to  hunt  harmoniously  together ;  and 
.  o  unfortunate  >  the  propensity  both  of  men  and  beasts  to 
learn  evil  more  easily  than  good  knowledge,  that  two  or  three 
days    companionship  with  a  rash,  headstrong,  rushing  brute 
will.  It  18  hkely.  play  the  very  deuce  with  your  carefully  broken 
dogs,  and  cause  them  tc  '-ontract  tricks,  which  it  will  cost  you 
much  pains  and  trouble  to  eradicate. 

^  It  is  so  very  common  an  occurrence,  while  in  pursuit  of  spring 
Miipe,  to  find  different  kinds  of  Wild  Duck,  particularly  rhe 
two  varieties  of  Teal,  the  Wood  Duck,  the  Mallard,  and  the 
Pintail,  that  it  is  well  worth  the  while  to  cany  a  few  red  car 
tndges  of  No.  1  or  No.  2  shot,-Col.  Hawker  obsei-vin^  of 
these  missiles.  "  that  for  a  wild  open  country,  or  shooting  by 
day  at  wild  fowl,  he  cannot  say  too  much  in  their  favor  in 
their  present  improved  state." 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  state  here,  that  when  two  persons 
are  shooting  in  company,  neither  must  on  any  account  think  of 
firing  at  a  bird  which,  however  fairly  it  may  rise  to  hi^^self 
flies  across  his  companion.  Each  sportsman  should  take  the' 
bird  which  flies  outwardly  from  the  common  centre  ;  by  doinir 
which  he  will  not  only  avoid  the  incivility  of  shoothig  across  hit 
friend's  face,  but  will,  in  the  long  run,  bring  many  more  birds 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


159 


to  bag  ;  for,  without  some  such  understanding,  both  charges 
will  constantly  "be  delivered  into  one  bird,  while  others  are  going 
away  unshot  at. 

It  is  a  most  uncourteous  and  clownish  fashion,  that  of  shoot- 
ing across  a  companion's  face,  if  committed  from  ignorance  only, 
or  carelessness, — if  done  from  jealousy,  and  a  grasping  desire 
of  making  a  larger  bag,  it  is  unpardonable  and  ungentleman- 
like.  A  fellow  who  would  do  it,  should  be  sent  at  once,  nem. 
con.,  to  Coventry. 

The  genuine  sportsmen  will  always  give,  rather  than  take ; 
and,  even  in  the  case  of  single  birds  flying  forward  in  a  direct 
line  before  two  guns,  the  shot  should  always  be  yielded,  espe- 
cially by  the  person  who  hunts  the  dogs,  and  who  may  be  in 
some  sort  regarded  as  at  home,  and  therefore  bound  to  do  the 
honors  to  his  comrade. 

Where  two  persons  shoot  much  together,  it  is  well  to  take 
such  shots  alternately ;  and  there  is  another  advantage  gain'^d 
by  this,  as  there  is  by  the  practice  of  all  punctilios  in  sporting, 
that  it  tends  to  promote  equanimity  and  coolness,  without  which 
nothing  great  can  be  effected  in  this  line. 

So  long  as  the  weather  holds  fair,  and  the  birds  lie  well  to 
the  dog,  there  remains,  T  beheve,  no  more  to  be  said  on  the 
subject.  But  it  must  be  observed,  that  in  wild,  windy  weather, 
early  in  the  season,  if  we  know  that  there  are  birds  on  the  range, 
that  they  have  been  killed  on  the  meadows  in  numbers,  and  for 
successive  days,  and  that  there  have  been  no  heavy  frosts  to  ba- 
nish them  from  the  district,  they  will  be  found,  as  I  have  before 
hinted,  in  haunts  altogether  different  from  their  usual  feeding 
ground.  So  soon,  therefore,  as  it  is  evident  that  they  are  not  to 
be  found  at  all,  or  in  anything  like  adequate  numbers,  on  the 
meadows,  it  ^s  advisable  to  turn  your  attention  instantly  to  the 
skirts  of  the  nearest  woodlands,  under  sheltered  leesides  of 
young  plantations,  among  willow,  alder,  and  briar  brakes,  and, 
in  short,  wherever  there  is  good  soft  springy  feeding  ground, 
perfectly  sheltered,  and  protected  from  the  wind  by  trees  or 
shrubbery. 


!-:i;ii  i 


^m". 


160 


FRANK   FOnESTER's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


I  first  observed  this  habit  of  the  American  Snipe,  which  is  ut- 
terly at  variance  with  the  habit  of  its  European  congener,  at  the 
J^nghsh  Neighborhood,  on  the  Hackensack  River,  where  by 
mere  accident.  I  stumbled  on  a  number  of  birds  in  the  cow- 
paths,  among  thick  brushwood,  far  above  the  salt  meadows,  to- 
ward the  Upland.     I  next  found  them  in  similar  ground  on  a 
very  wild  day.  at  the  end  of  March,  or  the  beginning  of  April, 
on  the  Long  Meadow  at  Pine  Brook.     On  that  occasion  the 
birds  were  all  busily  employed  in  drumming,_a  habit  of  the 
tsn.pe,  as  it  is  generally  stated  by  naturalists,  during  the  breed- 
ing season.     I  have  myself,  however,  never  witnessed  it,  except 
immediately  on  their  arrival  in  this  district,  long  before  they  had 
even  begun  to  pair.     The  habit  is.  however,  clearly  connected 
with  their  nuptial  and  vernal  propensities,  and  probably  conti- 
nues from  the  commencement  of  their  sexual  intercourse,  to  the 
end  of  thmr  incubation.     It  is  performed,  I  believe,  solely  by 
the  male  bird,  which  rises  in  the  air  till  he  is  almost  out  of  sight 
where  he  disports  him  for  hours  in  mid  ether,  sailing  round  and 
round  m  small  circles,  and  at  times  letting  himself  fall,  fifty  feet 
or  more,  plumb  down,  before  he  again  sails  on  his  wing.     It  is 
during  these  perpendicular  descents,  that  this  strange,  powerful 
and  musical  hum  is  uttered.-it  is  comparable  to  no  other  sound 
that  I  can  name,  and  must  be  heard  to  be  conceived.     It  is  very 
pleasing  and  sonorous,  and  may  be  distinguished  at  a  great  dis- 
tance    Once  heard,  it  can  be  mistaken  for  no  other  noise,  made 
by  either  bird  or  beast.-nor  will  the  sportsman  be  apt  to  for- 
get  It,  as  It  IS  to  him  strangely  ill-omened  ;  for„while  it  is  goinff 
on,  birds  will  rarely  or  never  suffer  themselves  to  be  approached 
within  gun8hot,-rising,  as  soon  as  flushed,  spirally  into  the  air 
each  seeming  to  call  up  another  by  the  sound,  and  sporting  to- 
gether aloft,  "  whiriing  round  each  other,"  to  borrow  the  elo- 
quent  language  of  Mr.  Audubon,  "  with  extreme  velocity,  and 
dancing  as  it  were  to  their  own  music  ;  for  at  this  juncture,  and 
durnij  the  space  of  five  or  six  minutes,  you  hear  rolling  notes 
mmghng  together,  each  more  or  less  distinct,  perhaps  according 
to  the  state  of  the  atmosphere."     I  was  surprised'to  find  that 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


161 


Mr.  Audubon  here  states  his  doubts,  whether  this  sound  is  pro- 
duced  by  the  feathers  of  the  wing,— or  rather  almost  asserts  his 
conviction"  that  it  is  vontriloqous.     I  have  lain  on  the  turf  for 
hours,  watching  them  when  in  tliis  mood,  and  when  all  farther 
attempt  at  pursuit  of  them  would  have  been  useless,  and  have 
observed  their  motions  with  a  good  glass.     I  am  myself  satis- 
fied that  the  sound  is  produced  by  the  fact,  that  the  bird,  by 
some  muscular  action  or  other,  turns  the  quill-feathers  edgevvise, 
as  he  drops  plumb  through  the  air ;  and  that,  while  in  this  posi- 
tion, during  his  accelerated  descent,  the  vibration  of  the  feathers, 
and  the  passage  of  the  air  between  them,  gives  utterance  to  this 
wild  humming  sound. 

Such  likewise  is  the  account  given  by  European  naturalists 
of  the  same  sound  which  is  produced  by  the  Snipe  there  at  the 
same  vernal  period  ;  they  mention,  moreover,  a  peculiar  cry  of 
the  male  bird  at  this  season,  different  from  his  shrill  squeak,  on 
being  flushed,  which  is  precisely  identical  in  the  American  and 
European  species— this  they  describe  as  resembling  the  word 
"  Peet;'  thrice  repeated  in  a  shrill  whistle.     This  I  never  have 
noticed  in  the  American  birds ;  but,  on  two  different  occasions, 
when  the  birds  were  at  the  very  wildest,  diiimming  away  for 
hours  at  a  stretch,  and  not  giving  even  a  chance  of  a  shot,  I 
have  observed  another  cry,  which  I  cannot  find  recorded  either 
by  Wilson  or  Audubon,  any  more  than  the  practice,  by  which 
it  is  accompanied,  of  alighting  on  fences,  stumps,  and  even  on 
tall  tree-tops. 

This  cry  is  a  sharp,  reiterated  chatter,  consisting  of.  a  quick, 
jarring  repetition  of  the  syllables,  kek-kek-kek-Jcck-kek,  many 
times  in  succession,  v/ith  a  rising  and  falling  inflection,  like  that 
of  a  hen  which  has  just  laid  an  egg.  This  singular  sound  is 
uttered  as  the  bird  is  descending  from  its  gyrations  and  musical 
performances ;  and,  afler  having  descended,  while  it  is  skim- 
ming  low  over  the  surface  of  the  bog  meadows,  previous  to 
alighting.  While  in  this  humor,  I  have  never  seen  them  alight 
directly  into  the  grass,  but  have  invariably  observed  them  to  set- 
tle first  on  the  stump  of  a  dead  tree,  or  on  a  rail  fence,  anc" 

VOL.  I,  11 


■^il 


mk^ 


163 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


thereafter  drop  into  the  rushes.  On  both  of  these  occasions,  the 
birds  Hghted  many  times  on  the  very  topmost  branches  of  the 
willows,  and  other  trees,  which  lined  the  fences ;  and  on  one  oc- 
casion, 1  saw  a  Snipe  take  flight  from  a  branch,  rise  upward, 
and  resume  his  drumming,  without  firet  returning  to  the  level 
ground. 

On  the  day  when  I  first  witnessed  these  performances,  which 
astonished  me,  I  confess,  little  less  than  it  would  have  done  had 
they  begun  to  sing  "  God  save  the  King,"  or  "  Hail  Columbia," 
which  would  perhaps  have  been  more  appropriate— I  observed 
that  when,  at  length,  they  ceased  dnimming,  which  they  did  as 
the  day  grew  hotter,  they  all  flew  off"  in  one  direction,  toward 
some  meadows  overrun  with  brakes,  cat-briars,  brambles  and 
thorn  bushes ;  and  herein  I  had  good  sport  with  them  for  seve- 
ral hours,  after  having  despaired,  in  the  moniing,  of  getting  a 
shot  at  all. 

Since   that  time,  I  have  repeatedly  found  them  in  similar 
ground  at  Chatham,  yet  higher  up  on  the  course  of  the  Passaic, 
where  there  is  a  great  deal  of  covert  of  that  particular  nature- 
low  stunted  bushes,  and  briar  patches,  growing  in  boggy,  springy 
ground.     So  notoriously  is  it  the  case  that  Snipe,  on  their  first 
coming,  there  frequent  such  localities,  whenever  the  weather  ia 
not  more  than  commonly  warm  and  genial,  rh'at  it  is  the  habit 
of  many  old  sportsmen  to  beat  for  them  regularly  in  such  places, 
without  trying  the  meadows  at  all,  on  their  first  arriv- j.     I  have 
killed  hundreds  of  couples  in   such  places  ;  and  have  put  up 
scores,  at  a  small  enumeration,  of  Woodcock,  then  sitting  m  their 
eggs,  from  the  self-same  coverts  at  the  same  time.     Indeed,  the 
same  brakes,  a  little  later  in  the  season,  afford  the   very  best 
cock-shooting.     Once,  and  once  only,  at  the  same  place,  Chat- 
ham,  during  a  snow-squall,  I  shot  several  couple  of  Snipe  in  a 
very  thick  piece  of  swampy  woodland,  among  tall  timber-trees 
with  heavy  undercovert— precisely  what  one  would  call  admi- 
rable summer  Cock-ground— the  Snipe  flew  in  and  out  of  tl,e 
brakes,  and  thridded  the  branches,  as  rapidly  as  Quail  or  Cock 
would  have  done,  in    similar  thickets.      W'hat  has  happeni'd 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


163 


once,  espocinlly  in  the  ways  of  animals,  is  like  to  occur  ajrain ; 
and   1  should  not  hesitate,   when    there  was  no  tract  of  low 
springy  underwood  near  at  hand  tp  Snipe  meadows,  to  heat 
high  wet  woodlands  for  this  bird,  during  the  permanence  of 
cold  storms  and  violent  winds,  sufficient  to  drive  them  from  fho 
open  fields.     At  all  events,  let  the  sportsman  remember  that  in 
the  Middle  and  Eastern   States,  bushy  ground,  briar-patchcfi, 
alder  and  willow  brakes,  and  the   like,  are  as  regular  haunts  of 
Snipe  in  spring,  as  bog  tussocks  or  marshy  meadows;  and  tlmt 
there  is  no  more  propriety  in  his  omitting  to  try  such  ground 
for  them,  than  there  would  be  in  neglecting  to  beat  thickets  and 
dingles  for  Quail,  because  they  ordinarily  feed  on  stubbles. 

While  I  am  mentioning  the  peculiar  habits  of  the  American 
Snipe,  such  more  particularly  as  it  is  not  generally  known  to 
possess,  I  may  obsei-ve  that  although  not  web-footed,  or  even 
semi-palmated,  this  little  bird  swims  rapidly  and  boldly.     I  was 
previously  aware  that,  on  falling  wing-tipped  into  the  water,  it 
was  able  to  support  itself,  and  even  to  struggle  away  from  a 
dog  ;  but  I  had  no  idea  that  it  would  take  the  water  of  its  own 
accord,  till  I  was  a  witness  to  the  fact  under  rather  singular 
circumstances.     I  was  standing  still,  loading  my  gun,  both  bar- 
rels of  which  I  had  just  discharged,  on  the  brink  of  a  broad 
spnng-fed  ditch  which  runs  along  the  lower  side  of  the  Long 
Meadow,  when  a  bird,  flushed  by  a  friend  at  some  distance, 
flew  over  my  head  and  dropped  within  ten  feet  of  me,  on  a 
spot  of  bare  black  soil,  between  two  or  three  large  grassy  tua- 
socks,  and  the  ditch.     I  had  never,  at  that  time,  observed  the 
natural  motions  of  the  Snipe,  when  unalai-med ;  and  I  stood 
watching  him,  for  some  time,  as  he  walked  gracefully  to  and 
fro,  and  stooped  down  once  or  twice  and  bored  in  the  mud, 
bringing  up  each  time  a  small  red  angle-worm  in  his  bill,  utteriy 
unconscious  of  my  presence.     After  a  minute  or  two,  he  delib- 
erately  entered  the  ditch,  and  oared  himself  across  it,  as  easily 
and  far  more  gracefully  than  any  water-fowl  could  have  done. 
I  have  since  regretted,  that  I  did  not  show  myself  at  this  mo- 
mcint,  in  order  that  I  might  have  ascertained  whether  it  pos- 


- 


Ik- I; 


tl|| 


}: 


164 


FRANif    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Bessed  the  power  of  taking  wing  from  the  surface  of  water, 
which  I  am  grentiv  irirlincd  to  doubt.  I  was  well  aware  pro- 
viously  of  thu  fuel,  that  many  of  the  Shore-birds  and  Sand- 
pipers  sw.  n  on  enuryency,  but  I  little  suspected  the  Snipe  of 
possessing  the  like  power. 

I  know  not  that  the  being  acquainted  with  this  habit  of  the 
Snipe  can  materially  aid  the  sportsman ;  but,  in  ca«o  of  dogs 
drawing  on  the  trail  of  birds,  whicTx  had  i-un  and  fed,  up  to^a 
brook-side,  or  on  the  foot  of  a  wing-tipped  bird,  I  should  now 
certainly  try  forward,  across  the  water,  which  I  should  not  pre- 
viously have  done. 

The  peculiarities  of  cry,  flight,  and  perching,  which  I  have 
related  above,  are  well  known  to  many  of  our  sportsmen  here ; 
and  I  can  readily  produce  half-a-dozen  witnesses  to  the  various 
facts  I  have  stated,  within  a  dozen  miles  of  the  room  in  which 
I  am  now  writing ;  as  well  as  to  the  bird's  occasional  habit  of 
resorting  to  the  interior  of  woods,  which  Mr.  Audubon  positive- 
ly  asserts  that  he  never  does. 

By  the  way,  since  penning  the  above,  it  just  strikes  mo  that 
in  the  Spring  of  1840,  when  the  snow  was  not  entirely  off  the 
Uplands,  in  shooting  with  a  friend  from  Quebec,  we  moved  three 
Snipe  from  a  little  piece  of  white-birch  woodland,  one  of  which 
was  shot  by  my  companion,  and  retrieved  by  my  setter  in  the 
bushes,  and  a  second  of  which  I  killed  over  a  point  in  the  next 
field,  not  very  far  from  Lorette. 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  all  these  habits  to  be  purely  local, 
M  concerns  tlie  American  bird.  Not  local,  owing  to  any 
peculiar  circumstance  of  the  place,  but  of  the  seasons  in  which 
the  bird  visits  or  frequents  the  places.  In  other  words,  I  sup- 
pose them  all  to  be  connected  with  the  amorous  and  sexual 
intercourse  of  the  birds,  and  to  commence  and  terminate  with 
the  breeding  season. 

In  the  summer,  when  I  have  shot  a  few  young  birds  during 
Cock-shooting,  and  m  the  autumn  when  I  have  killed  five 
times  as  many  as  I  have  in  spring,  I  never  heard  any  cry  from 
the  Snipe  except  the  regular  "  scaipe  r  nor  have  I  ever  seen 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


1C5 


it  manifost  the  (tlighteBt  inclination  to  alight  on  fence,  rail,  log 
or  tree.  I  therefore,  suppose  these  hal)its  to  be,  lik«!  (immming, 
peculiar  to  the  season,  and  analogous  to  the  circling  and  strut- 
ting of  Doves,  the  fan-tailing  of  Peacocks,  and  the  like.  I 
should  be  curious  to  leam,  however,  from  my  Southern  friends, 
who  kill  them  during  the  winter  in  far  greater  numberH  on 
their  Georgia  and  Carolina  rice  fields  than  we  can  pretend  to 
do  on  our  barren  bog  meadows,  whether  they  are  ever  known 
there  either  to  take  to  woodland  coverts,  or  to  tree. 

The  English  Snipe,  I  am  certain,  never  does  either,  both  f?om 
my  ow,  experience,  and  from  the  observation  of  many  ol.der 
and  better  sportsmen  than  myself.  I  have  «l)ot  the  English 
bird  constantly,  and  for  several  successive  springs,  in  the  fiins 
of  Cambridge  and  Norfolk  ;  and  I  liave  heard  him  drum  t  i  ore 
more  frequently  than  I  have  here,  but  I  never  heard  him  chat- 
ter, or  saw  him  take  the  tree  ;  and  I  am  certain  that  he  never 
does  so. 

While  speaking  on  this  subject  I  must  observe,  again  re- 
spectfully differing  from  Mr.  Audubon,  who  asserts  that  "  there 
is  as  great  a  difference  between  the  notes  of  the  English  and 
American  species  of  Snipe,  as  thore  is  between  the  American 
Crow  and  the  Camon  Crow  of  Europe,"  that  in  my  opinion 
the  cry  of  the  two  Snipes  is  prrfrrthf  identical ;  and  in  this 
view  I  am  corroborated  by  the  judgment  of  several  English 
sportsmen,  with  whom  I  have  habitually  shot  for  many  seasons 
here,  and  who,  like  myself,  had  killed  nundreds  of  couples  of 
Snipe,  before  visiting  America.  The  number  of  feathers  in  the 
tail  of  the  European  and  American  species  differs ;  and  I  am 
nearly  certain  that  the  English  bird  is  somewhat  largrr  and 
heavier — Wilson,  who  first  discinguished  the  two  species,  noti- 
ces th'  difference  in  size — but  otherwise  in  appearance,  and 
in  all  their  ordinary  habits,  they  are  identical.  I  lay,  how- 
ever, great  stress  on  the  difference  of  note,  in  the  breedinn- 
season,  and  in  the  other  peculiarities  alluded  to,  as  settino^  tlie 
question  of  variety  on  a  much  broader  and  more  distinct  base, 


. 


(. 


If 


I 


1, 


jLtli- 


loa 


ntm   PORKTER's    PlEtD    SPORTS. 


^  .1,0  ,Ii.,i„c,:„„  b„,„eon  .ix.eo„  and  fo„.tao„  tail-foathe™, 
will  an  inch  ,„„,„  „r  !„.«  i„  |t.„g,|, 

he,,,,   ,1,™  ,.„,k,„  I,,,,,  ,„y,„^  p„,        J 

hat., me  I  have  more  clea,ly  di,corn„d  i„  ,^ali.y;  an,l   l,avo 
n  c„„,o,,„„nce  leamod  ,„  ,„„k  for  ,h„m,  and  fi,fd  .hem    „„ 
where  1  »,,„„M  „.  .„„„  ,,,„  „,„  _^^  -    oo 

iw  lor  a  Snijie,  u,  England. 

With  ,ega,.d  ,„  ,h„  habi..  of  ,h„  hinl  in  summer,  I  know  lit 
le ,  1,„.  .ha,  h..]e  i,  onongh  .o  enable  me  .o  say  ,La.  ,hey  are 
n  no  »„e  d,«bren,  from  his  an.umnai  cn..oms.     TheSn"" 

.w,v    !„      ?      '",  ■''".^'  ""'  ''  "'  "■"  '■""'•  »■"'  •"•«  drive* 
•w  y  by  the  (,xi«,  ,|,o.  in  immense  „nmbe„  on  .he  mashes  a 

doCi  s^r*  °"°  '":,"'•  ^"' '""''-"  »f -her  p,:: 

Nf :\l.s^.;;;:r„,^^^^^^^  ^e  rrriSL  r 

and  acco,di„gly  as  .he  season  sets  in  ea,;";  k.e  std '7' 
regnla.o  tbeir  ar.ival  wi.h,  and  de„a,ture  from  n  The  .7 
e».  period  a.  which  I  have  ever  l<i  led  migra.!  Snine  ,  ,' 
mean  no.  bred  hero,  is  .he  lah  of  s.  ,  *""  "'^  ^"'l'"'  •""■*  ' 
T  K  1  ,.  >^,  ,s  tne  i,ith  ol  beptember:  when  in  !Ri9 

I  hagged  fourteen  couple  and  a-half  in  .  A         u  ' 

».  Chalham.     The  la.e,,  d.!         \    u  ^ ,      '"^  bog-meadow 

».h  of  Novembe      .  S  ,e  b;;!     ita     7  """  '''"• ''  *« 
-.-.  hy  an  e.ceUen.  sprrt^rn";- „J  'Ze'lT;:"'  fX 

unparalleled  in  .his  region.  There  i,  ho  ''"''"''"'«''  «"•"■ 
.l-uht  of  ,he  fac.,  aa,  being  hLsIf  LrrofTu  sT  ""'"'^ 
he  .ook  unusual  pains  .o  Jfy  i.  hy  snffi~v;:„r  Th:: 


UPLAND   SHOOTINa. 


167 


Aad  Iwjon,  if  I  do  not  eiT,  a  very  early  fall  of  enow,  succeeded 
by  hard  frosts  early  in  November,  and  after  that,  uncommonly 
mild  and  open  weather. 

In  autumn  Snipe-Hhooting  there  ia  nothing  to  bo  observed, 
except  that  the  birds  are  more  composed  and  less  restless 
than  in  the  spring ;  that,  unless  pensecuted  and  driven  from  the 
ground  by  iiK^essant  shooting,  they  linger  on  the  same  mea- 
dows, until  the  coldness  of  the  weather  compels  thom  to  travel 
southward  ;  that  they  lie  much  better  to  the  dog,  allowing 
themselves  to  be  pointed  steadily,  and  rarely  flushing  out  of 
fair  distance  ;  and,  to  conclude,  that  they  are  much  fatter,  much 
larger,  much  easier  to  kill,  and  much  better  eating  than  in  the 
spring  season.  I  have  never  seen  them  in  bushy  ground,  or 
even  among  briars,  in  the  autumn,  though  I  cannot  state  that 
they  never  take  to  such  places. 

Mr.  Audubon  states  the  weight  of  the  American  Snipe  at  3 
oz.  The  average  weight  of  the  English  species  is  4  oz.  I 
never,  but  once,  weighed  any  American  birds.  I  was  then 
struck  by  their  apparently  unusual  size ;  when  I  weighed 
twenty-five  together  at  the  tavern  at  Pine  Brook,  and  they 
averaged  within  a  small  fraction  of  5  oz.  each. 

The  Snipe  is  delicious  eating,  inferior  to  no  bird  that  flies, 
save  the  Upland  Plover,  and  the  Canvass-Back  Duck.  Like 
all  birds  that  feed  on,  or  near  the  water,  he  must  be  eaten  Jresh. 
A  ti-ue  gastronomer  abhora  Woodcock,  Snipe  or  wild  fowl, 
in  the  slightest  degree  high.  Gallinaceous  game  are  the  better 
for  keeping,  wild  fowl  and  waders  are  ruined  by  it.  If  pos- 
sible they  should  be  eaten  within  twenty-four  hours  after  being 
killed. 

They  should  be  carefully  picked  by  hand,  on  no  account 
Jrawn — that  is  a  practice  worthy  of  an  Esquimaux,  as  is  that 
of  splitch-cocking  and  broiling  them — the  neck  should  be  bent 
downward,  and  the  bill  mn  transversely  through  the  body,  im- 
mediately below  the  pinions ;  one  leg  thrust  through  the  sinew 
of  the  other  thigh — they  should  be  roasted,  at  the  outside,  ten 
minutes  before  a  very  quick,  brisk  fire  ;  with  no  condiment,  or 


I 


I 


M: 


-t.iW'- 


les 


ritiire  fobester's  riitD  spoets. 


JO.  t  e  ,„!,,„  Any  made  gravy  or  sauce  i,  an  abomination  ■ 
an,l  l,e  ,,;„,„,,ce  of  blanke.i„g  ,he  birds  while  roastin  '"„  "s 
of  fa.  bacon  should  be  held  the  death-warrant  of -.nv!  i  ■ 
weU  regulated  family.  A  little  salt,  ZTZZT^  1" 
may  be  ea.en  with  him ,  and  a  g,a,s-or  if  y„„  ~>ol' 
-of  chambemn  drank  with  him-but,  as  you  Le  eschew 
sauces,  vegetables,  or-small  beer  I  "^ 

More  people,  I  believe,  know  better  how  to  kill  .  «„■ 

*^^c,/.«,,  when  slain.    I.  becomes  the  spotsma;  ,„    bL  " 
..oh  c  pac.t.es ;  and,  though  myself  I  pa.take  a  little  too  much 
of  the  true  Spant'ers  quality  to  care  much  about  eating  gZe 
I  »ho„  d  at  least  have  him  eaten,  if  eaten  he  must  be.  i  172 
for  gods,  not  as  a  carcase  for  hounds. 


PPLANP   SHOOTING. 


169 


SUMMER    WOODCOCK    SHOOTING. 


HE  wisdom  of  oar  pame  laws  liaa 
decided  that  Woodcock  BhuU  bo  kill- 
ed and  taken,  by  all  and  Kundry,  in 
the  State  of  New- York,  on  and  after 
the  first,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey 
on  and  after  the  fifth  day  of  July ; 
although  in  the  latter  State  the  prac- 
tice of  the  sovereign  people  has  de- 
temiined  that  the  fourth  is  the  day  intended  by  the  enactment, 
and  on  the  fourth,  accordingly,  the  slaughter  commences.  In 
Pennsylvania,  and  Connecticut,  practice  at  least,  if  not  law — 
and  until  recently,  if  there  be  now,  there  was  no  statute  on  the 
subject — ^lias  prescribed  the  same,  or  nearly  the  same  period, 
for  the  commencement  of  Cock-shooting;  and  even  in  those 
counties  of  New- York  to  which  the  enactment  of  these  game 
laws,  such  as  they  are,  does  not  extend,  tacit  agreement  has 
prescribed  the  same  regulation,  at  least  am^ng  sportsmen. 

So  far,  indeed,  has  this  practice  been  canned,  that  by  means 
of  a  convention  of  this  sort,  the  shooting  of  Woodcock  is  ta- 
huoed,  until  the  fourth  of  July,  even  in  the  islands  of  the  Great 
Lakes  and  the  Detroit  River.  The  example  was  set  by  the 
officers,  I  believe,  of  the  American  and  British  garrisons  at 
Detroit  and  Amherstberg,  acting  in  concert,  and  the  practice 
has  almost  become  common  law. 

The  fact  is,  therefore,  that  everywhere  through  the  United 
States  and  the  British  Provinces,  whether  there  is  or  is  not  any 
distinct  law  on  the  subject,  the  commencement  of  July  is  as 


'. 


11    1^ 


170 


PRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


recTiilarly  hailed  the  legitimate  time  for  Woodcock  shooting,  as 
the  first  of  September  in  England  for  Partridge 

h«r  ^n  *?''"y';^'"^''  ^«  •»  -''"o^*  every  respect  a  century 
be  md  .„  the  ne.ghhoring  States,  there  is  a  special  proviso 
that  on  l„s  own  ground  every  man  may  kill  all  sorts  of  game 
whenever  he  pleases,  without  the  slightest  reference  to  common 
Bense  or  humanity,  and  may  give  permission,  to  any  one  he 
p  C.SCVS  to  do  hkow.e.  A  proviso,  which  not  only  abrogates 
the  whole  law,  „,  pomt  of  fact,  but  in  truth  gives  the  poacher  a 
clear  advantage  over  the  honorable  sportsman. 

There  ks,  llPvvever,  I  imagine,  no  prospect  of  any  alteration' of 
h.     aw,    winch   :s    in    perfect  keeping    with    the  pig-headed 
Btup.d.  y  manifested  throughout  the  legislation  of  that  State 
Ami  why.  ,n  f.ct.  should  not  a  man  be  allowed  to  kill  Wall 

c...- whenever  he  likes  on  his  own  ground,  in  a  State  wh^et 
a  CO  ,  ,  ^^  ^.,,  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^        n 

Ike  for  kn""  r  "'""'' ^  ^"'  ^^^'-^^  '^^-  whatever  they 
like  toi  killing  them  into  the  bargain  ? 

On  the  first  of  July,  then.  Woodcock  shooting  legitimately 

by  almost  all  the  restaurateurs  and  hotel-keepers  in  New- York 
:::irir^  ^^  ^^^^  ^^-^^-'«  ^^"^  -  ^^-ontrarji 

^  1     1    •  .  "^'*  grown  or  ^hereabout  somo 

only  bomg  a    ew  weeks  old,  and  others,  in  late  and  ad Ze 
seasons,  scarcely  hatched.  auvtise 

The  Woodcock  commences  laying  as  early  as  the  beginning 
of  February,  and  sometimes  lays  so  late  as  to  the  end  of  Ze 
or  the  beginning  of  July.      The  eggs  are  four,  and  somJ^e^ 
nve  in  number, — of  no  mnr^  fl,a,,  *i  •     i  ""t^umts 

M     "I  no  moie  than  this  does  any  nafiinU«f  ir, 

h„J  un.e.  wl,„.  become,  of  a„  y„„„^  ti,,,,  „,.  „,^  '^ 


irPLAND   SHOOTING. 


171 


Now,  although  the  length  of  time  occupied  by  incubation,  is 
not  laid  down  in  the  books,  it  cannot  exceed  eighteen  or  twenty 
days, — the  young  birds  run  the  moment  they  clip  the  shell  ;  and 
it  is  stated  by  Mr.  Audubon,  I  doubt  not,  orrectly,  that  ;c  six 
weeks'  old,  they  are  strong  and  quick  on  the  wing.  According 
to  this,  there  should  be  many  birds  well  on  the  wing  early  in 
April  ;  and  from  all  we  know  of  the  growth  of  these  birds,  no 
difference  being  manifest  after  the  August  moult  between  the 
old  and  young,  these  should  be  fully  equal  to  the  parents  in  size 
on  the  first  of  July. 

I  have  myself  no  doubt,  that  the  Woodcock  regularly  breeds 
twice,  and  sometimes  thrice  a  season,  although  it  is  certain  that 
young  birds  of  two  different  sizes,  and  consequently  different 
hatchings,  are  never  found  in  July  with  the  same  parents. 

It  occurs  to  me,  but  I  cannot  be  sure  of  the  fact,  as  I  only 
speak  from  vague  recollection,  that  in  the  few  cases  where  it  is 
possible  to  be  assured,  that  all  the  birds  killed  are  of  one  brood, 
— as,  for  instance,  in  small  hill-swales,  and  the  like,  containing 
one  resting-place — I  have  never  seen  above  one  old  bird  with 
the  brood.  In  adverse  seasons — the  worst  of  which  are  those 
which,  after  a  favorable  and  early  spring,  become  cold  and  wet 
in  May  and  June, — when  the  first  brood  is  destroyed  by  floods, 
the  old  birds  do  unquestionably  breed  a  second  time,  and  hatch 
a  very  late  brood,  so  late  as  to  the  middle  of  July.  And  of  this, 
I  think,  the  following  anecdote  will  be  held  sufficient  proof  and 
confirmation. 

This  anecdote  was  published  by  me  some  two  or  three  years 
since,  in  the  columns  of  a  leading  monthly  magazine,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  number  of  remarks  concerning  the  habits  of  the 
Woodcock,  on  some  of  which  I  have  since  been  led  to  alter  my 
opinion.  I  was,  at  that  time,  inclined  to  believe  that  the  parent 
birds  retained  several  broods  of  young,  of  different  sizes,  about 
them  ;  but  I  am  satisfied  that  this  view  of  the  case  was  errone- 
ous, and  was  induced  by  the  accident  of  two  or  more  broods 
having  come  in  contact,  as  is  perpetually  the  case  on  well- 
atocked  ground,  under  the  care  of  only  cac  parent  bird  each. 


% 


.(i 


172 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


■ 


The  only  way  to  verify  the  facts  satisfactorily,  would  be  tor-ark 
down,  in  the  daily  return  of  game  killed,  the  number  of  old  birds 
in  proportion  to  young,  and  to  ascertain  the  sex  of  the  former 
by  dissection.     The  female  bird,  it  is  true,  is  somewhat  the  lar- 
ger ;  but  It  IS  not  safe  to  reckon  on  the  eye,  or  even  on  the 
sea  es^  for  the  determination  of  the  sex.     By  the  way,  I  conceive 
that  there  must  be  some  error  in  the  printing  of  Mr.  Audubon's 
statement  concerning  this  relative  disproportion.     He  states  the 
weight  of  the  male  bird  at  6i  oz.,  which  appears  to  me,  beyond 
all  question,  inadequately  low,-and  that  of  the  female,  at  81  oz  • 
while  m  length  the  female  exceeds  the  male  only  by  j\  of  an 
mch.     This  difference  is  inconceivable,  not  to  say  impossible. 
The  understatement  of  the  male  Woodcock's  weight  struck  me 
at  first  sight  ;  and  I  endeavored  to  account  for  it  to  myself,  by 
supposing  that  Summer  Cock  had  been  assumed  as  the  base  of 
calculation.     I  presume  now,  that  6|  oz.  is  a  typographical  er- 
ror for  8)  ;  which  I  should  have  stated,  if  asked  suddenly,  as 
about  the  average  weight  of  a  full-grown  Woodcock.     The  bird 
from  which  the  accompanying  wood-cut  was  taken,  shot  bv  mv- 
self  on  the  23d  of  October,  1843,  weighed  9|  oz..  measured  13 
•nches  from  bill  to  claw,  and  18  from  wing  to  wing  extended  ; 
but  this  was  an  uncommonly   large  bird.      I  have,  however 
heard  of  their  being  killed  up  to  11  oz.    Once  for  all,  it  appears 
to  me  that  Mr.  Audubon  understates  the  weight  of  his  game 
birds  generally.     The  coming  season  I  will  carry  a  small  scale 
m  my  jacket   pocket,  and  would  earnestly  urge   it  on  every 
sportsman  to  do  the  samr.     They  can  be  obtained  at  any  tackle 
shop,  and  will  weigh  up  to  10  or  12  lbs.,  being  as  portable  as  a 
common  pencil-case. 

A  few  years  since— I  think  it  was  in  1841— there  was  a  deep 
fall  of  snow,  covering  the  greater  part  of  th?  St'ate  of  New  York 
near  eighteen  inches  deep,  so  late  as  the  12th  or  15th  of  May 
It  thawed,  of  course,  immediately,  and  produced  a  complete  in- 
undation, the  early  spring  having  been  rather  uncommonly  dry 
From  this  I  augured  ill  for  the  prospects  of  the  shootin-^  season' 
But  fine  weather  followed,  and  by  most  persons  the  Spring  sno" 
storm  and  freshet  were  forgotten. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


173 


On  the  first  of  July  I  went  with  a  friend,  a  good  shot  and  ea- 
ger sportsman,  to  a  favorite  shooting  ground,  in  Orange  county, 
N.  Y.,  on  a  part  of  which — for  it  had  a  very  large  range,  and 
contained  many  varieties  of  lying — we  had  bagged  on  the  pre- 
vious year  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  birds  in  a  single  day's 
shooting. 

We  shot  the  first  day  on  the  low  meadows,  and  killed  hardly 
any  birda ;  not,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  above  ten  or  a 
dozen,  in  a  severe  day's  walking.  They  were  well  grown  birds, 
but  not  a  single  old  one  in  the  number.  My  companion,  greatly 
annoyed,  insisted  that  the  ground  had  been  hunted  before  that 
season,  and  all  the  birds  killed  off,  except  the  handful  that  we  had 
found.  From  this  conclusion  I  dissented,  arguing  that  if  such 
had  been  the  case,  we  should  have  found  old  birds,  the  young 
being  the  easier  both  to  find  and  to  kill,  especially  for  cockney 
sportsmen,  who  alone  may  be  presumed  to  hunt  before,  that  sea- 
son. My  friend  grew  almost  angry,  and  asked  me,  "  "Where, 
then,  are  the  birds  V  I  answered,  "  Wait  till  to-morrow  even- 
ing, when  we  shall  have  beat  oar  other  ground,  and  I  will  tell 

you.' 

The  next  day  we  did  beat  the  other  ground  ;  wet  swales,  and 
sloping  woods  of  small  extent  in  valleys  watered  by  little  stream- 
lets from  the  hills.  Thevesult  was  the  same,  a  wretched  day's 
sport,  and  no  old  birds,  or  at  least  hardly  any. 

As  usual,  each  held  his  own  position  ;  my  friend  again  asked, 
"  How  do  you  account  for  tliis  ]"  J  replied,  "  All  the  young 
broods  have  been  destroyed  by  the  freshet,  except  the  very  few 
which  got  off  before  the  May  Hood. ,  This  accounts  for  the  few- 
ness of  the  birds,  and  for  the  uncommon  size  of  those  few.  The 
old  birds  are  now  hatclnng  tlieir  second  broi  ds  on  the  ridges  and 
hill  sides.  I  will  show  you  that  I  am  right,  to-norrow."  And 
to-morrow  1  did  show  him  that  the  ridges  and  sapling  coverts — 
sprouts,  as  the  country  people  call  them — were  full  of  old  birds, 
horcring,  and  no  young  ones. 

Still  ny  crdiipanion  was  incredulous  as  to  the  second  broods, 
until  in  the  afi  onioon,  as  I  was  passing  through  a  little  clump  of 


174 


PRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS, 


alders,  not  above  two  or  three  yards  square,  I  flushed  a  bird 
vvluchflewouttohim.     He  fired.     I  called  out  to  enquire  whe- 
ther he  had  killed,  and  as  he  answered  "  yes,"  I  heard  the  bird 
flapping  Its  wings  on  the  ground,  in  the  death-struggle,  as  I  ima- 
gined.    Knowing  that  he  could  recover  the  bird,  in  the  open 
ground,  I  beat  out  the  thicket  thoroughly,  and  left  it,  satisfied 
that  It  contained  no  other  bird,  though  I  had  some  difficulty  in 
getting  one  of  my  Setters  away  from  what  I  supposed  to  ).e  a 
field  mouse.     On  joining  my  friend,  he  told  me  that  the  bird  had 
flapped  up,  when  he  was  in  the  act  of  laying  his  hand  upon  it, 
and  had  staggered  away,  seeming  every  moment  on  the  point' of 
falling,  so  that  he  did  not  care  to  fire  at  it  again,  until  if  got  out 
of  shot ;  but  that  he  had  marked  it  down  to  a  yard,  in  a  thick 
btush  fence,  three  or  four  hundred  yards  away.     On  going  to  the 
place,  the  dogs  took  the  scent  readily;    but,  while  they  were 
traihng  it,  the  bird  rose,  a  hundred  yards  off,  flapping  and  stacr- 
genng  aboiji,  as  if  severely  hurt ;  and  flew  some  three  or  fi,ur 
hundred  yards  farther  from  the  thicket  in  which  we  first  started 
It,  ond  dropped  again  in  a  piece  of  thick  hill-side  coppice.     I 
marked  the  bird  accurately  by  the  top  of  a  pine  tree,  and  off  we 
set  m  pursuit,  I  more  than  half  suspecting  that  the  bird  was  un- 
wounded.     Scarce  had  we  entered  the  covert,  when  up  whizzed 
the  identical  bird  fresh  and  sound,  from  the  very  brak^  in  which 
I  had  marked  him,  and  away  like  a  bullet  through  the  tree  tops 
So  thoroughly  convinced  was  I,  that,  though  I  could  have  killed 
the  bird  with  ease,  I  would  not  fire  at  it;  but  to  convince  my    * 
still  doubting  friend,  we  walked  back  to  the  little  tuft  in  which 
we  first  sprung  the  cock  ;  he  promising  not  to  fire  if  we  should 
again  flush  her.     My  dogs  were  not  well  in  the  alders  b.-fore 
the  bird  rose  again,  and  was  going  away  at  her  best  pace,  when 
my  friend's  shot  stopped  her,  to  my  infinite  disgust.     He  is  a 
very  quick  shot,  and  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment  forgot 
everything  except  the  game  and  the  fury  of  pursuit. 

Almost  at  the  same  moment,  old  Cliance— he  was  the  best  re- 
tiiever  I  ever  saw  in  any  country— picked  up  from  the  spot 
where   I  had  supposed  he   was  snuffing  after  a  field-mouse 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


175 


a  young  downy,  unfledged  "Woodcock,  less  than  two  inches 
long. 

Chance  would  cairy  a  hurt  hird  by  the  tip  of  his  wing,  with- 
out ruffling  a  feather  ;  and  though  it  will  hardly  be  believed,  I 
took  the  little  fledgling  from  his  mouth  unharmed,  and  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  him  run  away  briskly,  and  hide  himself 
behind  a  dock-leaf. 

That  day  we  shot  no  more,  nor  indeed  that  summer ;  but 
before  we  left  Orange  county,  I  went  again  to  the  same  brake 
with  the  old  dog,  but  without  a  gun,  and  flushed  what  I  presume 
to  have  been  the  male  bird,  which,  by  its  simulated  crippled 
flight,  again  drawing  me  away  from  the  spot,  convinced  me  that 
he  was  watching  over  his  motherless  little  ones. 

Had  I  needed  anything  to  convince  me  that  Woodcock  ought 
not  to  be  shot  in  July,  that  scene  would  have  convinced  me ; 
and  since  that  day  I  have  never  ceased  to  advocate  a  change 
and  simphfication  of  our  game  laws,  which  should  prohibit  the 
killing  of  Woodcock  until  the  first  day  of  October  ;  and  make 
that  one  day  the  end  of  close  time  for  all  game  v*^hatever. 

For  the  present,  however,  until  the  game  laws  shall  be  al- 
tered, and  established  on  a  more  reasonable  and  more  perma- 
nent footing,  of  which  I  flatter  myself  there  is  still  a  remote  hope 
left  to  the  true  sportsman,  there  is  nothing  left  but  to  make  the 
best  of  it, — to  take  the  field  ourselves,  with  the  oi  <roXXoi,  and 
do  our  best  at  the  slaughter  ;  nor  will  I  deny  that  there  is  much 
sport  in  it,  though  sport  which,  if  men  could  be  induced  to  fore- 
go it,  would  lead  to  such  results  in  autrmn,  as  we  can  now  hardly 
imagine. 

This  interesting  little  bird,  being  properly  noctunial  in  his 
habits,  is  rarely  or  never  seen  by  day,  unless  by  those  who  ore 
especially  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  even  by  them  he  is  found  with 
difficulty,  unless  when  hunttnl  with  well  liroke  dogs. 

At  nightfall,  however,  he  mny  often  be  seen  on  the  wing, 
darting  athwart  the  gloom  from  the  dry  upland  coverts,  in 
which  at  many  seasons  he  loves  to  lie,  toward  his  wet  feeding 
grounds.     During  the  hours  of  darkness  he  is  on  the  alert  con- 


H 


170 


FRANK   F0REST£U'S   FIELD   SPORTS. 


■""o   and  direct  migrations,   clioosinK  for   this    ln.,„, 

«.S«y  weather,  at  or  about  the  f„„  „/."„  "  '""^"" 

-.■am,e,..  n' ar;  r:rmr  r;:  t-  "-  -■'^^ 

.he  .oft  .oa;,'i:te"  oTet  ,1  Te  r  ."7,  !"7"='r'""« 

when  «n;rf:i;::;r^rt::r  t  rr  " 

It  h  l,y  the  abundance  of  thi,  food  that 
iB  .Heated,  and  hi,  choice  of  seln,  t  ,  """"""^  »"""'"" 
gree,  controlled.  On  sandy  andtr'  ,  ™™">''™''le  da- 
for  example,  ha  i,  fou„r  areTy  in  "oZ"  '' ""'/""^  '"'"'■ 
.-«e  congregations  which tje  i  TeT: ^  XC^  7  '"^ 
m  more  favored  localities       s"  ill  ,  sportsman 

™a,.h  land  and  peat  h::-.h!l,T;Ve°:a!rthT^^"  T 
most  affects  hardly  exists-  while  „„  J ,  ,         ^'  '™'™  '"' 

whether  the  color  ^f  the  sJilb     ed  ort„  Hh    "7,  '""*' 
posed  vegetable  matter,  he  may  be  fi^d  t::!:*  """"'■ 

moult,  the  wLr  :-i:': : : :  Trr:,::T;"°^  '."^ '-' 

himself  alone,  althoudi  the  s.me  I!  ?  """^'"S:  for 

^;-  to  one  nei.h.orL:t:::e  :;;:x^^^^^^ 

tin^  in  anywise  with  his  fellows  until  tl  e  '''  '■'""'^"■ 

I'-eedinc.  reason.  ^'onimencement  of  the 

At  this  period  of  the  year,  from   July  I  mean  to  th.  1      • 
-.  of  the  moult,  when  the  bird  ^,.,,1^12  lUn^uX 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


177 


a  while,  the  young  broods  are  found  on  the  ground  in  which 
tliey  ai*e  bred. 

And  there  is  scarcely  any  sort  of  ground,  in  which  the  soil 
consists  of  black  vegetable  mould,  or  rich  loam  of  any  kind, 
and  in  which  there  is  a  sufficiency  of  water,  that  is  not  conge- 
nial to  him  as  a  breeding  place— I  except  always  the  depths  of 
the  primeval  forests,  in  which  he  aever  is  found. 

The  narrowest  ravines,  down  which  the  merest  thread  of  wa- 
ter trickles  among  bare  gray  rocks,  provided  there  is  a  bed  of 
rich  succulent  soil  in  the  bottom  of  the  swale,  even  at  the 
height  of  800  feet  above  tide-water  will  hold  a  brood  or  two; 
so  will  the  swampy  bogs  and  morasses  on  the  tops  of  the  high' 
est  hills  ;  but  the  fVivorite  breeding  ground  of  the  bird  is  un- 
doubtedly  level  marsh  meadows,  interspersed  with  clumps  and 
thickets  of  willow  and  alder,  maple  groves,  growing  on  swampy 
land,  and  warm  sequestered  vallies. 

In  South-West  Jersey,  they  are  found  in  the  greatest  abun- 
dance on  perfectly  open  meadows,  among  bog  grass  and  rushe., 
in  exactly  what  would  usually  be  called  admirable  Snipe- 
ground  ;  and  I  have  killed  them  in  the  neighborhood  of  Salem 
IP  considerable  numbers,  where  there  was  not  a  tree  or  bush 
withm  half  a  mile.  This  approximation  of  habits  between  the 
two  kindred  species,  of  Snipe  and  Woodcock,  is  very  curious 
and  mteresting-the  foimer  bird,  as  we  have  seen  above  under 
certain  circumstances  and  in  peculiar  districts,  betakii.cr  himself 
to  the  wooded  haunts  of  his  nearest  blood  relation,  and  the  lat- 
ter, when  in  a  treeless  country,  making  himself  at  home  amonrr 
marshy  levels  better  adapted  to  the  general  habits  of  his  cousin" 

On  no  ground,  however,  have  I  ever  seen,  or  shall.  I,  I  much 
fear,  ever  again  see  this  bird  in  such  multitudes,  as  on  what  are 
culled  the  "  Drowned  Lands  "  in  Orange  county,  N.  Y.  These 
are  a  vast  tract  of  level  country,  surrouTidinir  the  various  branch- 
es and  tributary  streams  of  the  Walkill-it  extends  many  miles 
in  length,.and  contains  every  sort  of  lying— tall  open  groves 
impenetrable  fastnesses  of  brake  and  thicket,  wide  reaches  of 
perfectly  open  bocj-meadow,  and  as  wide  expanses  of  open 
vot..  r.  ,r»  ^ 


wumAumnkm^m^fsi 


|..«|iiWPi 


^T^gyp  "■ 


178 


PRANK   FOHESTETl's   FIELT)   SPORTS. 


plain,  covered  with  rirh,  tender  grass,  and  interBpcrsed  at  every 
few  paces  with  brakes  of  aldei's,  and  willow  bushes.     The  num- 


bers I  have 


idible.     In  18.9  I  shot 


seen,  on  that  ground,  are  mcred 
over  it,  accompanied  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Ward,  of  Warwick,  who 
then  woiglied  above  three  hundred  pounds,  and  shot  with  a 
single-barrelled  Westley  Richard's  gun  ;  and,  in  three  succes- 
sive days,  we  bagged  fitly-sovon,  seventy-nine  and  ninety-eiglit 
Cock,  over  a  single  brace  of  dogs,  not  beginning  to  shoot  until 
it  was  late  in  the  morning.  On  the  following  year,  with  a 
friend  from  New- York,  I  shot  on  the  tame  ground  all  day  the 
first,  and  until  noon  on  the  second ;  bagging,  on  the  first,  ona 
hundred  and  twenty-five  birds,  and,  on  the  second  morning, 
seventy.  The  first  of  these  days  was  intensely  hot ;  and  the 
ground  became  so  much  foiled  by  running  of  the  innumerab'e 
birds,  that,  although  we  had  excellent  retrievers,  we  lost, 
beyond  doubt,  forty  or  fifty  birds  ;  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon 
we  were  entirely  out  of  ammunition. 

I  am  perfectly  satisfied  that,  if  we  had  been  provided  v\  itli  a 
brace  of  fresh  dogs,  at  noon,  with  clean  guns,  and  a  proj)er  sup- 
ply of  powder  and  copper  cap.4,  b(jth  of  which  gave  out,  it 
would  have  been  perfectly  easy,  on  that  day  to  have  bagged 
from  one  hundred,  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  couple  of  Wood 
cock. 

The  shooting  on  that  ground  is  now  ended.  The  Erie  rail- 
road passes  within  ten  miles  of  it,  and  it  is  now  overrun  with 
city  poachers  and  pot-hunters;  besides  leing  shot  incessantly 
by  the  farmers'  boys  and  village  idlers  of  the  neighborhood, 
who  have  beoun  to  compete  with  the  New  York  vagabonds  in 
supplying  the  markets  with  game. 

I  confess  that  I  have  often  wondered  that  the  owners  of  these 
tracts  have  not  had  the  shrewdness  tcj  discover  that  by  enforcino- 
the  laws,  and  prohibiting  trespassers,  they  might  aimually  let  the 
shooting  of  these  ranges  for  very  considerable  sums.  "  The 
Drowned  Lands  "  are  in  general  held  in  large  farms,  and  the  bett 
shooting  is  all  owned,  comparatively  speaking,  by  a  very  few 
individuals.     I  have  not  the  e  ightcst  hesitation  in  saying  that 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


179 


if  some  half-dozen  or  eight  farmers,  whose  land  I  know,  would 
resolutely  put  an  end  to  all  shooting  on  their  premiwes,  they 
could  readily  let  the  rif,'}it  of  shooting  to  an  association  of  gen- 
tlemen, at  a  price  which  would  put  a  hundred  dollars  annually 
into  each  of  their  pockets. 

I  could  find  the  gentlemen  who  would  give  it,  and  be  but  too 
glad  >r  the  opportunity;  and  who,  looking  forward  to  enjoy- 
ment .  the  same  sport  in  future  years,  would  neither  wantonly 
annihilate  the  stock,  nor  do  the  mischief  to  the  grass  crops,  and 
fences,  which  continually  results  from  the  incursions  of  the 
loafers  and  vagabonds,  who  compose  the  great  bulk  of  rural 
sportsmen.  I  really  should  greatly  rejoice  at  seeing  something 
of  this  sort  attempted.  Its  effect  would  be  most  beneficial  on 
the  preservation  of  game  generally  throughout  the  United 
States. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Woodcock  seascm,  to  revert  to  things 
as  they  now  are,  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  find  birds,  if  you  are 
in  a  good  country ;  and  in  truth,  except  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  large  cities,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  finding 
broods  enough  to  amuse  a  few  leisure  hours  ;  although  it  is 
daily  becoming  more  and  more  questionable  whether  it  is 
worth  the  while  of  dwellers  in  the  Atlantic  cities,  to  keep  dogs 
for  the  purpose  of  Cock-shooting,  and  to  make  excursions  some 
fifty  or  sixty  miles  inland  for  sport  during  the  season.  A  due 
regard  to  truth  compels  me  to  say  that  such  excursions  have 
ceased  to  be  what  they  were,  "  ccmsule  Flanco,"  when  General 
Jackson  was  first  President ;  yet  farther  inland  there  are 
doubtless  still  places  to  be  found  abounding  with  the  tribe  of 
Scolopax;  although  from  the  "Big  Piece,"  and  the  "Little 
Piece,"  from  Chatham  and  the  "  Drowned  Lands,"  the  glory 
of  his  house  lias,  for  the  most  part,  departed. 

In  July,  then,  there  is  ordinarily  but  little  skill  to  be  dis- 
played in  Ihe  mere  act  of  finding  the  birds,  for  there  is  nothing 
to  be  done  but  to  beat  the  ground  carefully,  thoroughly  and 
slowly,  wherever  there  is  water  and  covert.  Unless  the  brood 
of  the  season  has  been  annihilated  already,  or  the  ground  ii'.> 


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23  WEST  MA:^i  STREET 

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180 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


persecuted  in  past  seasons  as  to  have  been  entirely  desurted 
by  the  breeders,  here  they  must  be  found.      In  this  country 
Woodcock  are  shot  altogether  over  Setters  or  Pointers— during 
the  whole  sixteen  years,  which  I  have  passed  in  the  States,  I 
have  known  but  two  sportsmen  who  used  the  Cocking  Spaniel, 
though  that  is  unquestionably  the  proper  dog  over  which  to 
shoot  the  bird— and  it  is  obvious  that  there  are  many  objections 
to  be  made  to  these,  in  their  places,  noble  animals,  as  used  fur 
covert-shooting.     The  proper  sphere  for  both  Pointer  and  Set- 
ter is  the  open— the  wide,  waving,  heathery  moors,  the  giassy 
Snipe-bog,  the  rich  russet  stubbles,  from  which  the  harvests 
have  been  garnered  to  the  fanner's  heart-content.     To  range  as 
wide,  as  highly,  and  as  dashingly  as  they  can,  is  their  proper 
vocation,  and  their  highest  merit.     To  work  fairly  and  in  full 
view  of  their  master  and  of  one  another,  giving  plentiful  note 
of  the  vicinity  of  game  by  their  actions  to  the  eye,  but  none  to 
the  ear,  is  the  province  for  which  nature  destined  them,  as  all 
their  qualities  demonstrate. 

In  order  to  suit  them  for  wood-shooting  at  all,  one  of  these 
qualities  has  necessarily  to  be  diilled  out  of  them,  by  early  and 
incessant  rating,  watching  and  admonition— I  mean  their  speed, 
range  and  dash. 

The  highest  merit  a  thorough-bred  and  thoroughly-broke 
Setter  or  Pointer  can  possess  in  Europe,  on  his  proper  ground, 
and  in  pursuit  of  his  proper  game,  is  never,  unless  he  be  at  a 
dead  point,  or  down  to  charge,  to  be  within  five  hundred  yards 
of  his  master,  always  beating  his  ground,  head  up  and  stem 
down,  at  full  gallop.  Here  in  covert  at  least,  where  nine-tenths 
of  his  work  is  done,  his  highest  merit  is  never  to  be  twenty 
yards  distant  from  him. 

He  must  unlearn  his  own  nature,  and  acquire  that  of  the 
Spaniel ;  in  so  far,  at  least,  as  to  substitute  unwearied  industry, 
short,  continually-succeeding  turns,  and  the  closest  possible 
quartering  of  the  gi-ound,  for  his  natural  rating  gallop.  His  eye 
must  be  constantly  on  his  master,  his  ear  ever  alive  to  his 
slightest   whistle,   which    he    must    obey   with   the   speed   of 


ITPLAND   SHOOTING. 


181 


light.  He  must  be  prepared  to  back  his  fellow,  oftener  at 
the  word  "  Toho!"  than  at  sight  of  his  point;  for  so  difficult  is 
the  covert  in  which  his  duty  is  done,  that  I  have  more  than 
once  seen  three  several  dogs  standing  within  a  square  of  six 
yards,  on  one  bird,  not  one  of  which  suspected  his  comrade's 
presence.  Again,  he  must  be  broke  to  drop  where  he  is  when 
the  shot  is  discharged,  instantaneously,  and  to  lie  there  until 
commanded  to  "Seek  dead;"  when  he  must  draw  up  to  the 
killed  bird,  point  it,  and  at  the  word  "  Fetch,"  perfonn  the 
duty  of  a  retriever. 

This  it  is,  which  makes  a  really  fine,  and  thoroughly  broke, 
Woodcock  dog  so  nearly  invaluable. 

Shooting  as  we  do  in  this  country  in  thickets  overrun 
with  vmes,  creepers,  and  cat-briars,  to  which  the  densest  cop- 
pice  or  covert  I  ever  have  seen  in  England,  was  open-work, 
and  that  too,  when  every  tree,  plant  and  shrub  is  covered 
with  its  most  luxuriant  summer  foliage,  it  is  evident  that  a 
dog  cannot  be  visible  half  the  time  at  a  distance  of  ten  paces; 
and  that  it  is  only  by  his  keeping  in  constant  motion  to  and  fro' 
close  before  us,  that  we  can  in  the  least  make  out  his  where- 
about. As  it  is,  with  the  best  broke  dogs,  it  is  a  common  thing 
to  lose  them  altogether,  though  perhaps  but  fifteen  yards  off* 
when  pointing  steadily,  and  to  be  compelled  either  to  call  them' 
off,  or  to  waste  half  the  day  in  looking  for  them.. 

Another   gi^eat   difficulty   in   summer    Cock-shooting,   over 
Setters,  is  this,  that  when  the  bird  is  pointed,  as  he   almost 
universally  is,  from  the  outside  of  a  brake  inward,  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  get  a  fair  shot  at  him,  unless  you  do  so  unsports- 
manlike  a  thing  as  to  hie  your  dog  on,  and  make  him  flush  his 
own  bud.     This  cannot  be  done  with  impunity  for  any  length 
of  time,  even  with  the  best  and  steadiest  dogs  ;  for  when  once 
they  have  become  used  to  this  irregular  mode  of  proceedinff 
although  they  may  stand  stock  still,  and  shew  as  staunchly  S 
possible,  under  their  master's  eye,  until  desired  to  "hie  on  '" 
no  sooner  will  they  find  themselves  pointing  out  of  sight  than 
they  will  follow  what  is  surely  the  bent  of  their  natural  instinct 


182 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


kept  down  by  painful  instruction,  and  will  dash  in  and  flush 
their  game. 

When  shooting  in  company,  as  one  always  should  do,  if  pos- 
sible, especially  in  July,  I  have  always  made  it  a  point,  when 
the  dogs  were  standing,  so  as  to  render  it  likely  that  the  shot 
would  be  a  ticklish  one,  to  call  up  my  comrade,— birds  lie  hard  in 
summer,  and  a  word  or  two,  more  or  less,  will  not  flush  them,— 
to  place  him  in  the  most  commanding  position,  and  then  plunge 
into  the  brake,  taking  my  chance  for  a  snap  shot,  and  up  with 
the  bird  myself.      Having  always  kept  dogs,  and  having  shot 
principally  with  friends  who  did  not,  it  has  always  been  my 
luck  to  have  the  gamekeeper's  work,  and  to  be  forced  to  drive 
tlirough  the  thick  of  the  tangle,  while  the  others  could  pick  their 
way  along  the  outskirts,  and  get  open  shots.     Somehow  or  other, 
however,  I  have  generally  managed  to  get  about  as  many  shots, 
and  perhaps  to  Lag  about  as  many  birds  as  my  neighbors  ;  and, 
in  process  of  time,  I  have  got  into  the  way  of  liking  the  rough- 
and-tumble  inside-of-the-covert  work.     You  see  mpre  of  the 
dogs'  working,  and  get  more,  if  harder,  shots  ;  and,  above  all, 
you  acquire  what  is  the  knack  of  covert-shooting,  the  knack  of 
tossing  up  your  gun  instinctively  to  your  shoulder,  and  stopping 
your  biid  in  the  most  tangled  thicket,  without  knowing  how  you 
shot  him,  or  whether  you  saw  him  at  all  when  you  fired,  the  in- 
stant you  hear  a  flap  of  his  wing. 

Even  when  alone,  I  invariably  flush  my  own  bird,  never  order- 
ing my  dog  to  go  on,  even  at  the  risk  of  losing  a  shot ;  though 
the  chances  are,  that  you  can  generally  mark  the  bird  down  to- 
lerably well.  In  this  matter  I  never  vary,  and  I  do  most  strenu- 
ously urge  it  upon  all  sportsmen,  who  would  have  good  dogs, 
and  good  sport,  to  neglect  and  sacrifice  all  individual  shots,  all 
individual,  crippled,  or  killed  birds,  rather  than  do  a  wrong  thing 
themselves  before  their  dogs,  or  allow  them  to  do  a  wrong  thing 
uncorrected. 

By  running  in  to  catch  one  wing-tipped  bird,  racing  away 
from  your  dogs,  or  by  encouraging  them  to  run  in  and  fetch, 
before  you  have  loaded,  you  will  lose,  in  all  probability,  ffiy 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


183 


birfls,--by  your  setter  getting  into  the  way  of  dashing  into  the 
uii.lst  of  scattered  bevies,  and  flushing  them  all,  one  by  one, 
while  you  are  standing  with  your  unloaded  gun  in  your  hand, 
roaring  down-charge,  and  uttering,  if  you  are  a  little  quick- 
tempered, all  sorts  of  imprecations  against  your  poor  dog, 
which,  if  at  all  just,  you  would  fulminate  against  yourself  No 
thing  is  more  annoying  to  me,  than  to  be  joined  by  some  coun- 
try gunner  in  the  field,  who,  utterly  unconscious  of  wrong,  per- 
sists in  doing  things  which  make  your  own  hair  stand  on  end. 
and  compels  you  to  flog  the  unhappy  quadrupeds  for  the  faults 
of  the  stupid  biped. 

While  speaking  on  this  subject,  I  will  quote  an  observation 
which  I  met  with  the  other  day,  in  a  capital  book,  by  a  right 
good  sportsman,  entitled— the  book,  not  the  man—"  The  Moor 
and  the  Loch."  The  truth  and  force  of  the  remark  struck  me 
the  moment  I  read  it ;  and,  although  ii  v?  not  new  to  the  accom 
plished  sportsman,  or  old  dog-breaker,  I  think  I  have  never  seen 
it  in  print  before  ;  and  I  am  sure  I  have  seen  the  fault  it  repre- 
hends committed  a  hundred  times. 

The  writer  is  speaking  of  "  the  inveterate  habit,  contracted 
through  bad  breaking,  of  running  in  when  the  bird  drops.    This 
trick  is  acquired  from  the  breaker's  carelessness,  in  not  always 
making  the  dog  fall  down  when  birds  rise,  a  rule  which  should 
never  be  neglected,  on  any  pretence."     Mr.  Colquhoun  here 
means,  that  the  dog  should  be  taught  to  charge,  on  the  bird  ris- 
ing, whether  shot  at,  w  not ;  and  unquestionably  lie  is  right  in 
the  matter.     "  The  steadi-ness  of  a  dog,"  he  proceeds,  "whether 
old  or  young,  depends  entirely  upon  its  being  rigidly  observed.     I 
have  seen  dogs  most  unmercifully  flogged,  and  yet  bolt  with  the 
same  eagerness  every  shot.     It  is  easy  to  see  the  reason  ;  the 
dog  was  followed  by  the    keeper  endeavoring  to    make  him 
*  down' ;  there  was  thus  a  race  between  them,  which  should  first 
reach  the  fallen  bird.     The  plan  to  adopt  with  a  dog  of  this  de- 
scription, is  when  the  Grouse,"  or  other  game,  "  drops,  and  the 
dog  rushes  forward,  never  to  stir, — coolly  allow  him  to  tear 
away  at  the  game  until  you  have  loaded  ;  by  which  time  he 


184 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Will  most  probably  have  become  ashamed  of  himself.     You  will 
then  walk  up  most  deliberately,  and  without  noticing  the  bird 
take  the  dog  by  the  ear,  and  pull  him  back  to  where  you  fired,' 
all  the  time  giving  him  hearty  shakes"— J  should  say,  cuts  with 
the  whip,-"  and  crying   'down,'  when  you  get  to  the  spot 
where  you  shot  from,  take  out  your  whip,  and  between  the 
stripes  call  '  down,'  in  a  loud  voice  ;  continue  this  at  intervals 
for  some  time  ;  and,  even  when  you  have  finished  your  discipline, 
don  t  allow  the  dog  to  rise  for  ten  minutes  at  least;  then,  after 
speaking  a  few  words  expressive  of  caution,  take  him  slowly  up 
to  the  bird,  and  lift  it  before  h^s  nose.     If  this  plan  is  rigidly 
followed  for  several  shots;  I  never  saw  the  dog  that  would  con- 
tinue  to  run  in." 

The  writer,  it  will  be  observed,  is  here  speaking  of  running 
in  to  eat  or  tear,  not  to  "/efcA"  his  bird  ;  that  being  a  practice 
never  taught,  or  allowed,  to  Pointers  and  Setters  in  En<.land 
simply  because,  being  used  altogether  in  the  open  field,  it  is  as 
needless  rhere,  as  it  is  necessary  here.     When  I  firet  came  to 
this  country,  I  imported  a  fine  young  Setter  pup,  which  I  had 
broke  by  Mr.  Sandford,  of  Newark,  whom  I  consider,  in  all 
respects,  the  best  and  most  intelligent  dc^g-breaker  I  ever  saw; 
and,  on  conversing  with  him  on  the  mode  of  breaking,  I  was 
equally  surprised  at  learning  two  things,— that  Setters,  or  Point- 
ers,  were  invariably  broke  *o  V^^'^^/' or  retrieve  dead  birds; 
and  that  they  were  always  taui^^t  to  "  come  in"  before  charg' 
mg.     I  was  exceedingly  incredulous  on  the  firet  point  ;  and  it 
was  only  with  reluctance,  and  after  seeing  the  steadiness  with 
which  his  dogs  first  charged,  then  pointed  dead,  and  then  fetched 
that  I  consented  to  allow  "  Chance"  to  be  broke  to  retrieve.    On 
the  other  point  I  was  firm  ;  and  Mr.  Sandford  having  broken 
that  dog  for  me,  to  drop  to  shot,  on  the  spot,  without  coming  in, 
was  so  thoroughly  convinced  of  its  advantage,  in  giving  steadi' 
ness,  in  avoiding  unnecessary  words  and  orders,  and  in  render- 
ing  the  dog  promptly  obedient,  that  he  at  once  adopted  the  me- 
thod, and  has  never  broken  a  dog  otherwise  since  that  time. 
I  must  add,  that  I  am  equally  well  satisfied,  that  to  retrieve 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


186 


18  a  necessary  accomplishment  for  a  Setter  or  Pointer  in  this 
country;  that  it  would  be  an  advantage  everywhere  ;  and  that 
a  dog  can  be  precisely  as  steady  fetching  every  bird,  as  he  can 
if  mcapable  of  so  doing. 

buf^n  'TTJ'  i"w'''^^  ^"  ""''"•  ""^  ^'"^y  '^  down-charge, 
but  to  pbm   dead,  before  he  is  allowed  to  fetch.     If  the  second 

duty  IS  neglected,  it  will  be  a  very  little  while  before  the  ani- 

mal  begins  to  rush  in  at  every  shot,  without  charging. 

One  great  difficulty  here  is,  that  no  one  in  America  having 

gamd^eepers,  the  hunting  of  the  dog.  so  soon  as  he  is  tui-ned 

out  of  the  breaker's  hands,  falls  directly  on  the  master-.hot 

very  general^,  even  if  himself  a  very  passably  good  shot,  unac 

quauited  with  the  methods  of  dog-breaking,  and  unquali  ed  by 

?6  wo  k    Vl'  ''''■  '^'"^  ^'^  '^"'^"'^^^  ''  ^"-=  systematically 
to  work  with  the  animal,  so  as  to  keep  him  up  to  all  that  he 

knows  and  to  prevent  him  from  either  acquiring  new  bad  tricks! 
or  neglecting  his  old  teachings.     It  is  scarcely  L  much  to  sav 
that  one  half  of  the  dogs  in  the  United  States'  which  ^o  out  oi 
the  breaker's  into  the  master's  hands  valuable  bnztes.a^e,  at  the 
end  of  twelve  months,  worthless. 

I  should  strongly  recommend  young  sportsmen,  when  pur- 
chasing new  dogs,  to  take  an  opportunity,  if  possible,  of  seeW 
hm  hunted  several  times  by  the  breaker,  and  of  e;deavoring 
nd        an       P^^"^"7°^-  «f  «P-^h  and  action  with  the  dog! 
and  at  all  events  to  learn  those  points  of  education,  on  which 
he  insists,  m  order  that  they  may  guide  themselves  in  their  ol 
con  uet  toward  the  animal  thereby,  and  insist  on  the!  Z 
actiAg  in  all  respects  up  to  his  previous  teaching.     Old  sZs 
men.   of  course,  have  their  own  ways  of  havL  thJ^T 
trained,  and  on  these  they  are  so  trained  .^^^^  till 

..elf    beea.se  no  two  epor^^^n  It  ^^  ^t  l\t: 
observed,  exactly  ahke.  and  I  wish  my  dog  to  huf  as  I  Zl 
bun  to  hunt  not  better  than  he  does,  nor  worse.     It  is  impZ 
ble  to  imagine  the  difference  of  the  intelligence  of  tJodog  " 


186 


FRANK    FOHESTER't*    FIELD   SPORTS. 


equally  good  by  nature,  the  one  of  which  has  never  been  hunted 
but  l)y  one  master,  and  the  other  by  every  one  whom  he  has 
been  pleased  to  follow. 

I  have  taken  the  opportunity  of  making  these  observations 
on  dog-breaking,  and  dog-hunting,  in  this   place,   because   in 
summer  Woodcock  shooting,   above   any  other  phase  of  the 
sport,    an   implicit    obedience,   great  steadiness,   and   perfect 
staunchness  is  required  in  the  dog.   In  Quail,  or  Snipe-shooting, 
you  can  see  your  dog  the  greater  part  of  the  time  ;  you  ca°n 
obsci-ve  his  every  motion ;  and  can  usually,  if  you  are  quick- 
siglited  and  ready-witted,  foresee  when  he  is  about  to  commit  .a 
fault  in  time  to  check  him.     In  summer  shooting,  woe  betide 
you,  if  you   entertain   so  wild  a  hope.     You  hunt  darkling, 
catching  sight  of  your  four-footed  companion  only  by  snatches, 
often  judging  him  to  be  on  the  point,  because  you  have  ceased 
to  hear  the  rustle  of  his  sinuous  movement  through  the  bushes ; 
or  because  you  have  not  seen  his  form  gliding  among  the  water' 
flags  or  fern,  so  recently  as  you  should  have  done,  had  be  turned 
at  his   regular  distance,    and   quartered   his   ground   without 
finding  game.     It  is  not  once  in  ten,  nay  !  in  twenty  times,  that 
you  see  him  strike  his  trail,  draw  on  it,  become  surer,  and  stand 
stiff.     You  lose  him  for  a  moment,  look  for  him,  where  he  ought 
to  be,  and  find  him  because  he  is  there,  pointing  as  you  expected. 
A  step  or  two  forward,  with  your  thumb  on  the  hammer,  and 
the  nail  of  your  forefinger  touching  the  inside  of  your  trigger- 
guard.     Still  he  stands  steady  as  a  rock;  and  you  know°by 
the  glare  of  his  fixed  eye,  and  the  frown  of  his  steadfast  brow, 
and  the  slaver  on  his  lip,  that  the  skulking  Cock  is  within  ten 
feet  of  his  nose,  perhaps  within  ten  inches.     You  kick  the  skunk- 
cabbages  with  your  foot,  or  tap  the  bunch  of  cat-briars  with  your 
gun-muzzle,  and  flip-flap  !  up  he  jumps,  glances,  half-seen  for 
a  second,  between  the  stems  of  the  alder  bushes,  and  is  lost  to 
sight  among  the  thick  foliage  of  their  dark  green  heads,  before 
your  gun-butt  has  touched  your  shoulder.     But  your  eye  has 
taken  in  his  line— the  trigger  is  drawn,  the  charge  splinters 
the  stems  and  brings  down  a  shower  of  green  leaves,  and 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


1R7 


among  them  you  fancy  that  you  have  seen  an  indistinct  soino- 
thmg  falhng  helplessly  earthward-that  you  have  heard  the 
t/>ud  of  his  tumble  on  the  moist  ground.  Nevertheless,  anxious 
although  you  be,  and  doubtful  of  your  own  success,  you  stir 
not  from  the  spot.  At  the  report  of  the  gun.  your  dog  couch- 
ed instantly ;  you  can  scarcely  see  him.  so  closely  has  he  charged 
among  the  water-grass,  with  his  nose  pressed  into  the  very 
earth  between  bis  paws. 

You  drop  your  butt  upon  the  toe  of  your  boot,  if  the  ground 
be  very  wet.  and  begin  to  load,  rapidly,  yet  coolly  and  delibe- 
rately.    Yes!  you  have  killed  him  ;  you  may  see  the  feathers 
floating  yonder,  in  the  still  murky  air  of  the  windless  swamp. 
\  ou  half-cock  your  locks,  and  apply  the  caps  ;  and.  expectant 
ofthe  coming  order.  "  Don"  lifts  his  nose  wistfully.    -Holdup. 
sSek  dead  !"  and  carefully,  gingerly,  as  if  he  were  treading  up! 
on  eggs,  knowing  as  well  as  you  do  that  the  bird  is  dead,  and 
knowing  pretty  well  where  he  is,  at  a  slow  trot,  moving  his 
nose  from  this  side  to  that,  snuffing  the  tainted  air,  and  whip, 
ping  his  flanks  with  his  feathered  stem,  he  draws  onward  at  a 
slow  trot.     Now  he  has  caught  the  scent,  he  straightens  his 
neck    quickens  his  pace  a  little,  decidedly  and    boldly,  and 
stands  firm.     "Good  dog:    Fetch"     TTa  «t^  i     '*     \ 

ri^^A  I-  J  1,      1      .       .  stoops,  picks  up  the 

dead  bird,  by  the  tip  of  the  wing  only,  and  brings  him  to  you 
without  mffling  a  feather.  How  conscious,  how  happj^^h'ow 
perfectly  aware  that  he  has  merited  your  approbation  St  you 
W  both  played  your  parts  handsomely,  as  he  hands  you  the 

Let  him  snuffle  at  it.  for  a  moment,  if  he  likes  it ;  he  would 
not  touch  It  with  a  tooth,  for  a  dog  kingdom  ;  but  the  scent  is 
to  him  what  the  aroma  of  a  glass  of  Lynch's  Chateau  Margaux 
of  25  IS  to  you -let  him  enjoy  it,  he  shall  not  sex.e  you  the 
worse,  for  that  he  looks  for  his  reward. 

Here,  gentle  reader,  is  what  thou  art  expected  to  do  on  oc- 
casion.    Do  It  thus,  always,  and  thou  a,t  a  good  sportsman 
and  a  crack  shot,  not  a  doubt  of  it.     Do  it  thus,  very  oftenTn 
one  day.  and  thou  art  having  a  right  good  day's  spL  If  it 


188 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


«ucl,  as  I  trust  I  may  have  many,  before  this  year  has  donned 
the  sear  of  the  leaf,  which  is  not  as  yetgreen. 

Jesting  apart,  this  is  the  way  to  do  it.  both  as  regards  the 
flushmg  and  shooting  the  bird,  and  the  management  of  the  dog  • 
and.  wuh  respect  to  the  last.  I  have  only  to  add.  that  while  it  is 
mpossible  to  be  too  resolute,  too  firm,  and  almost  impossible  to 
e  too  stnct.  .f  not  severe,  it  is  also  impossible  to  be  too  patient 
too  dehberate.  or  too  quiet,  with  a  delinquent  dog.      tL  le^t' 
outbreak  of  temper  prostrates  its  own  object.     AH  punishml 
uns  at  prevention.     If  you  distract  the  dog's  compre'hensior: 
you,  meanmg.  the  object  of  the  punishment  is  lost.     Remem^ 
ber  too.  that  the  brute  knows  as  well,  whether  he  is  punished 
justly  or  unjustly,  as  you  do.  Punished 

A  quiet  rating,  and  a  gentle  pull  of  the  ear.  is  better  than  an 
intemperate  and  noisy  flogging  ;  but  when  you  do  flog  let  k  be 

;Vdo fl^  ''7  ""^"^^"'  "-"^^  withou%unishing.^wh  : 
you  do  flog,  flog  in  earnest.  ^ 

ths  .ha,  I  have  de»:nbed,  varied  by  those  thousand  little  „„. 
foreseen  incidents,  which  render  field  spo«s  so  cha,™nV"o 
every  sensitive  and  enthusiastic  spirit.    pL  of  all,  it  is^rfued 
.n  the  very  lovelies,  sn^mer  weather,  when  ,he  whole  a,™ 
sphere  is  alive  with  .11  sound,  of  niemmen.  and  glee,-I,  TZ- 
lowed  among  the  wildest  and  most  romantic  combina  Lns  of 
rural  scenety     ,„  the  deep,  dim,  secluded  groves,  far  Cthe 
ordinaiy  .,,ad  of  man,  by  the  ™edy  and  wil  W-girdled  mlr- 
gms  of  calm  inland  watei,,  by  the  springy  shore'  of  mull 
mountain  brooks    in  long-retiring  valley,  high  up  among  he 
Mis,  whence  we  look  forth  at  unexpected  turns  overwide  tracti 
of  woodland   ,ce„ery_in  places  where  the  shyest  and  Z 
..mid  of  warblers  wake  their  wild  music  all  day  Lg,  screened 
by  impemous  umbrage  from  the  ho.  noon-tide  of  J^ly,  Xe 
eveiy  fonn  of  animal  life  and  beauty  abounds,  unbeheS  of  o  ! 
dinary  mortals. 

And  are  not  all  these  things  a  source  of  pleasure  to  the  true 
woodsman  ?  Is  he  not  necessarily  a  lover  not  of  sport  only)  a," 


UPLAND   8R00TIN0. 


189 


Of  «xo,eeme>.e-tho.e  are  the  n.dor  a„d  less  genial  attul,ute« 
oi  h,8  profes8ion-but  a  lover  of  nature  1     To  his  mere  success 
as  a  sportsman,  I  have  already  shown  that  a  knowledge  of  the 
habits  and  instincts  of  animals  is  necessary  ;  and  let  a  man  once 
set  Inmself  to  study  these,  and  he  has  turned  already  the  first 
page  of  natural  history;  and  so  enticing  is  the  study,  that  he 
perforce  must  persevere.     And  none  can  study  natural  history, 
without  loving  nature.     The  true  sportsman,  the  gentie  sports- 
man,  must  be  in  some  sort  apoet-not  a  jingler  of  rhymes,  or  a 
cramper  of  English  words  into  strange  and  uncongenial  mea- 
Bures  a  meter  of  syllables,  and  a  counter  of  fingers,  but  a  lover 
of  all  thmgs  beautiful  and  wild-a  meditator,  a  muser '     He 
must  be  as  the  old  pastorals  were,  nj/mj^harum  fugientum  ama- 
tar;  and  to  the  very  farthest  flight  of  their  coy  footsteps  must 
he  follow  them.     Were  it  not  for  this,  the  sportsman  were  but 
a  mere  skilful  butcher,-out  upon  it!  there  be  better  things 
than  this  m  our  philosophy  ! 

This  it  is,  with  the  sense  of  freedom,  the  sense  of  power  of 
manhood,  of  unchained  and  absolute  volition,  which  we  feei 
when  our  foot  is  on  the  mountain  sod,  our  lungs  expanded  by 
the  mountain  air.  that  makes,  in  some  sort,  every  man  a  sports- 
man,  '■ 

And  then  the  noonday  repose  beneath  the  canopy  of  some 
dark  hemlock,  or  tall  pine,  still  vocal  with  the  same  fitful  mur- 
mur  which  pleasured  in  Arcadia  the  ears  of  old  Theocritu.s-the 
dainty  morsel,  rendered  a  thousand  times  more  savory  than 
your  city  banquets,  by  the  true  Spartan  sauce  of  hunger  the 
cool  draught  tempered  by  waters  cooller  and  clearer,  though 
perchance  less  full  of  inspiration,  than  the  lymph  of  Hippocrene  • 
the  pleasant  converse  on  subjects  manifold,  over  the  mild  fumes 
of  the  composing  cigar.-or.  if  need  be,  the  camj^ing  out  in  the 
wild  woods,  the  plying  of  the  axe  to  form  the  temporary  shanty 
the  kindling  of  the  merry  blaze,  the  rude  yet  appetizing  cook' 
ery,  the  buoyancy  of  soul  caught  from  all  these  things  the  un 
tutored  jest,  the  untaught  laughter;  and,  last  not  least    com- 
posed  on  the  fragrant  hemlock  tips,  which  strew  the  woodman's  • 


IPO 


FRANK    FOHESTEU's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


couch,  lulled  by  the  murmur  of  the  wind  in  the  never-silent 
tree  topa,  by  the  far  plash  of  falling  waters,  by  the  plaintive 
wailing  of  the  whip-poor-will,  and  the  joytnis  revelry  of  the  (|(,w. 
drinking  katydids— the  sleep,  under  the  blue  vault  of  the  skies, 
guarded  by  the  winking  eyes  of  the  watchful  planets  only,— ! 
sweeter  and  sounder,  lighter  and  more  luxurious,  than  primes 
catch  on  beds  of  eider-down  and  velvet. 

^  Lo  I  you  now,  reader,  have  not  we  too  caught  the  in^pira- 
tion,  and  ere  we  knew  it,  waxed  poetical  I 

One  thing  alone   is  wanting  to  the  perfection  of  summer 
shooting  18  a  sport— I  speak  not  now  of  the  unfitness  of  the  sea- 
son  for  hard  exorcise,--«o  season  is,  in  truth,  unfit  for  the  dis- 
play  of  manhood  !— nor  of  the  unfitness  of  the  half-grown  broods 
for  slaughter!- and  that  one  thing  is,  the  want  of  variety  in  the 
species  of  game    In  autumn,  hearty,  jocund,  brown  autumn,  the 
woodman's  sport  is  indeed  manifold.     Even  when  his  dog  has 
pointed,  though  he  may  guess  shrewdly  from  the  nature  of  his 
movements  and  the  style  of  his  point,  the  sportsman  knows  not 
what  may  be  the  game  which  shall  present  itself  to  his  skill.    It 
may  be  the  magnificent  Ruffed  Grouse,  whirring  up  with  a  flut- 
ter and  an  impetus  that  shall  shake  the  nerves  of  a  novice;  it 
may  be  a  bevy  of  quail  eighteen  or  twenty  strong,  crowding 
and  jostling  one  another  in  their  anxiety  to  avoid  the  danger, 
and  distracting  his  aim  by  the  multiplicity  of  objects;  it  may  be' 
a  full-grown  white-fronted   Woodcock,  soaring  away  with  its 
sharp  whistle  high  above  the  tree  tops  ;  it  may  be  the  skulking 
Hare,  bouncing  among  the  kalmias  and  rhododendrons,  vulgarly 
genorali;.ed  as  laurels— they  might  as  well  be  called  cabbages  » 
—It  may  be  Teal  or  Wood-duck,  or  if  we  are  in  the  open,  it  may 
be  Snipe,  skirring  away  zig-zag  over  the  rushy  level. 

This  it  is  which  gives  so  strange  a  zest  to  the  field  sports  of 
an  American  autumn  day,  and  which  renders  the  autumn  shoot- 
mg  of  this  country  the  wildest  and  most  interesting  of  any  it 
has  ever  been  my  luck  to  encounter-of  any,  I  presume,  in  the 
world,  unless  it  be  that  of  Northern  India,  on  the  lower  slopf 
•and  in  the  plaitis  at  the  foot  of  the  Himalayah  Mountains 


les 


n 

> 
is 


>  .w 


t;PLAND   SHOOTING. 


191 


And  with  this  ends  all  that  is  to  be  said  on  summer  Wood- 
cock shooting  ;  for  the  period  during  which  the  sport  can  be 
followed  is  of  itself  brief,  not  lasting — at  the  utmost  not  above  a 
month  from  its  commencement  to  its  termination,  by  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  birds  from  their  usual  haunts  in  this  section  of 
the  coimtry. 

This  disappearance  of  the  bird  is  one  of  the  most  mysterious 
and  inexplicable  features  in  the  natrral  history  of  the  Wood- 
cock ;  and  what  is  very  remarkable,  it  is  not  in  any  wise  no- 
ticed or  alluded  to  by  any  naturalist  with  whose  works  I  am 
acquainted.  Neither  Audubon  nor  Wilson  appear  cognizant 
of  the  fact,  both  speaking  of  the  Woodcock,  as  if  it  tarried  with 
us  regulariy  from  its  arrival  eariy  in  February,  until  its  depar- 
ture on  the  setting  in  of  severe  frost. 

That  this  is  not  the  case,  is  perfectly  well  known  to  every 
sportsman  in  the  country,  although  very  few  of  these  have  trou- 
•bled  their  heads  to  consider  the  circumstances  of  this  short  mi- 
gration, much  less  to  record  it.  The  fact  is,  that  so  soon  as  the 
young  birds  of  the  last  brood  are  full-grown,  the  Woodco(  k 
withdraws  for  the  purpose  of  moulting,  and  returns  no  more 
until  the  autumnal  frosts  have  set  fairly  in,  until  the  meadow 
grass  is  crisp^  and  the  leaves  sear.  A  few  scattered  birds  in- 
deed linger  in  the  old  places,  just  enough  to  prove  that  there  is 
an  absolute  change  of  place  on  the  part  of  the  others  of  the  fa- 
mily, and  these  only,  it  is  probable,  in  consequence  of  some  ac- 
cidental circumstance  which  has  detained  them,  such  as  the  late- 
ness of  their  last  brood,  or  perhaps  an  unduly  early  moult  on 
their  own  part,  compelling  them  to  remain  tranquil,  while  their 
congeners  are  moving. 

At  all  events,  the  disappearance  of  the  main  body  is  sudden, 
total,  and  simultaneous.  So  much  so,  that  for  the  five  or  six 
earliest  years  of  my  residence  in  America,  when  matters  of  bu- 
siness prevented  me  from  absenting  myself  from  the  city  until 
the  first  of  August,  I  was  utterly  unaware  that  the  "  Drowned 
Lands"  of  Orange  county  ever  held  many  Woodcock,  althouo-h 
I  was  in  the  habit  of  passing  my  summers  in  that  immediate 


192 


FRANK  FORESTER'S   FIELD  SPORTS. 


shoe,.  ""''  "'"■<•"'  8«"'"g  above   half-aJozeu 

4;:et:!:e'"  r;  c-^'t^r  r  •  i  ^"«-.  *- «. 

■l^n.-  A  few  bird,  can,  i,  i.  .t' l'.  1 V  T  *"  '■°"'  '"' 
enough  ,o  fu™i,h  „  dainty  fo  ,  1"  ;"""»'  "-^  P™-ed, 
hard  pinch  to  try  a  do<r.  h..,  .  "''•  '"'  P='''>aps  at  a 

agreeable,  or  Jo^h  ^  ^u.TT'''^  ""'  ^"""^^  -  -der  i. 
Another  fact,  going  ,„  p„ve  ,h  °   rt  '"  ''"""'"  "''  *-""• 

pearance  or  e„igr!,ion  !  Ttd  ^I' "  ""°'."'«  *»«P- 
their  return,  they  come  in  .,.  '    „  "'""'■  "'  ">»«  <>n 

'enger  or  shorter    toe  l"!-'"'""'  f*"""'  "">'"?  -->■  « 
-ajher,  and  then  paT -"l  '".It  isTt^r  "^'  °'  "' 
When  first  I  be^an  to  «nnr.         ^.  '"'"'^  **^^<  conclusive, 
years  ago,  there  we'l  two  t'he'rieVc      '^"""^'  ^^'"^  ^^^^^ 
whereby  to  account  for  the  fact  thL T'"^  ^P^^^^"' 
Bwarmed  in  July,  they  wer^  i;    .,  '"  ''""'^''  ^^^^'^  ^^^^  t,ird8 
Both  theories,  J'l  hTve  p^  :^^^^^^^^^^^^^     '^  '^^^'  ^  August, 
untenable  and  groundless.  ^        "   satisfaction,  are 

The  first  was  this — "  That  f>,«  Ui  j  j- j 
at  all,  but  ren^ained  on  his  oW  t  .  ""'  '"  *^^'^'  ^^'^^PP^-^ 
fact  of  his  being  in  n^oul ,  he  gavT^  ;^"^''  T"^  *^  *« 
dog  could  detect  him  •  and  fioJ  T  ''""'  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^ 
with  his  wonted  velodtv  3-  T  ''?^""««' «^  ^"ability  to  fly 
intruding  ene4;the2;;f '""'  ^^  ™^  "^^^^  ^^^  tread  of  his 

This  theory  is  answered  in  a  word      Th«  W     ^ 
m  moult,  does  give  out  as  murh  ■  ^^^dcock,  while 

dogs,  doe.  risers  wl^;     '.r^l^^  P'?^""^^^  ^^^^^  ^X 
upon  the  table  as  at  any  otLr  sts  J.'^^^^^  ^  ^""^ 

proved;    si?:ce,  althoucrb    th^  ^^^ts,  which  are  easily 

"iuHng  A„g.t,'andtfot  tZ^Z^f,  "'^  """-- 
t«Ty  in  their  old  ,„a„p,,  and  Iv  hef      .      '  "  '^"' ''"  ""' 

«.  few  in  number,  and'   .    o  grea    an  !  *°''  "■""^'' 

great  an  expense  of  time  and 


UPLAND   SHOOTING.  jgg 

have  flu„e.:a ;  ;t ;  ::a  ith  :'r  "r^  °"'^  *"  '-^^ 

dive.ted  of  one  half  I'  -,77  I  ^^  "'"'■""»•  °"  "'"«■ 
have  observed  Thau  et  J  :  '  T""'  °"'''  '"  "»'  "«»•  I 
a  distance  fro™  a,e  ^.^  arl:;'""";'!^'  ""u"  "  ■"  ^'''^ 
wing  as  freelv  thon.l,       ,    I  T^  '    "''  """  "'"  ^"^  «°"k 

kL'  T1-  *  '  "  '""'"•  half  impotent  to  flv 

Beyond  this,  it  is  scarce  nece^san-  ,„       ■  . 

g«nt  „ader,  that  if  the  birdsstr  av  in'^  °'"  '"  °"  '"'^"'- 
ground,  however  scentless  tj  ^  l™'  '"'  **  "M 
hunted  Coseiy  by  ZteXtdTnll:^,:  do"  T'^.  '' 
™n  up,  or  turned  out  of  thelrass  IT        u      *''    "  """=■■ 

ed,  and  the  cold  weather Z  ^tL  ^  17^      7  ^  '■°"" 
Woodcock  may  be  fo,™a  '  *'"'  "^at'ered 

edge  of  wolis  tnt        ^  ""''  '"'"^''■«'"''».  ■""-S  «I- 

-h  .uusTons'tagrt'ibrr-^"''''''  "■^^'■-"'  -• 

their  removal ,  but  4a  .he7ar;™ff    f' ''"'™""  '" 
for  any  number  of  consecufive  /  f™"''  ''""""'""j''  <»• 

is  an  utterly  incorrect  .Zi,     J.::  J^^" '"''  ^°""'' 
I  have  applied  myself  carefi^llvT  th,  ■         -"  "''P''™"''-'- 
circumstance,  and  in  the  hrten  .   -'""Sation  of  this 

thousand  maiie-SeUs  Ir  „;  ,"  ^X  .^  ''"f""  "»"="  > 
•e-  as  any  private  gentlemL 'prse,,ed  Ttl"  '""' ^°'- 
when  farmers  would  tell  me  "they  weras'tl^lkr  f""^  '^°"°' 
corn-fields  ;  "  and  I  have  „„,  „  '""'^  '"  *» 

than  three  Wrds,  in  any  oLTeld       ""r^r"""  ""*'"'  "-^ 
on  such  ground  altogert,:,  '  ""'  ■"''  '  ''"'»''  '"-'^-fi™ 


VOL.  I, 


13 


194 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


Somewhat,  I  must  confess,  to  my  surprise,  I  have  observed 
within  the  last  few  weeks,  a  long  and  somewhat  elaborate 
article,  in  the  columns  of  that  admirable  journal,  the  New- York 
Spirit  of  the  Times,  the  writer  of  which  apparently  quite  uncon- 
scious of  all  that  has  been  written  on  the  subject,  and  seeming 
to  believe  that  he  has  made  a  discovery,  brings  out  anew  the 
old  corn-field  story.     The  matter  is  really  not  worth  talking 
about.     Every  school-boy  knows  that  late  in  July  and  August 
a  few  birds  occasionally  resort  to  wet,  woodside  maize-fields, 
and  every  one  who  has  shot  fifty  summer  Cock  in  his  life  ought 
to  know,  that  no  number  are  ever  to  be  found  in  them,  and  that 
he  must  have  immense  luck  who  bags  a  dozen  Cock  in  all  the 
maize-fields  he  can  beat  in  a  hard  day's  walk.     I  would  like 
nothing  better  than  to  bet  season  in  and  out,  against  one  bird 
to  the  square  acre— or  square  five  acres,  for  that  matter. 

I  think  the  reader  will  admit  that  the  two  theories,  alluded  to 
above,  are  by  these  facts  indisputably  controverted. 

And  now  I  must  expect  that  it  will  be  enquired  of  me, 
"  whither,  then,  do  they  go  1  What  does  become  of  them  1"' 
To  which  sage  questions  it  is,  I  grieve  to  say,  my  fate  to  be 
unable  to  make  satisfactory  reply. 

I  was  formeriy  inclined  to  believe,  that  when  the  moult  is  at 
hand,  the  Woodcock  withdraws  to  the  small  upland  runnels, 
and  boggy  streamlets,  which  are  to  be  found  everywhere  among 
our  highest  hills  or  mountains.  That  the  moulting  season  is  tlio 
signal  for  dispersion,  and  the  tennination  of  all  family  ties 
between  the  young  and  old  birds,  is  certain.  From  this  time 
forth,  until  the  next  February  brings  round  the  pairing  time, 
the  Woodcock,  whether  found  singly  in  a  solitary  place,  or 
among  scores  of  his  kind,  is  still  a  lonely  and  ungregarious 
bird,  coming  and  going  at  his  own  pleasure,  without  reference 
— undemocratic  rascal — to  the  will  of  the  majority. 

In  corroboration  of  this  view  of  the  absence  of  our  bird 
during  the  early  autumn,  I  was  once  informed  by  a  gentleman 
whose  word  I  have  no  reason  to  disbelieve,  that  on  ascending 
once  to  the  summit  of  Bull  Hill,  one  of  the  loftiest  of  the  Higli- 


tTPLAND   SHOOTING. 

^^lloti^t^'antr  rrr  "'°"'"^'-''  «"-^- 

and  ■■ocky  ladl "nd  ,  u^"  "'°°''  °"  ""^  """""• 

n.e„,i„,he  br^„„t.  of  LTT  '  T"'*"*  "^  ■■"  «■«- 
be  founa  i„  .befevaildttC  i:;,::™  ^t  ?';:i»  -^  '<> 
•h«  he  a.  «m  intended  to  revWt  Z  hffl  X:  t"^  "  '"""''' 

and  gun,  in  order  to  ™„fi,  TT     ,  "*""  '"'y'  "'*  dog 

doing  si  lyclTl  7       '  '"  '''"='""^'  '"«  ™  P™™,ed 

carefully  with  I"  with  t^"  •'""""'  "■"  ""'  ""''  I"""  " 
labor,  and  onZZ^T''^""Tl  '"'''"'''"  »  ^-'rf  hia 
birds.  ""  ''"^  '^"'"''  "-^  ^a-np'  below  full  of 

ci.y-.hat  i.  Xt  sh  u°d  bT"r'  •  T" "'  ""'»«=  -- 

fact  ha  stated,  whL  /^"m  '™  '"*'"'  ">  '"''"«>  any 

should  lead  h  m  tratlr,  ;  ""  '"'T'"  °"  '■'^  P""'  "'-' 
»o  such  reaaon"  ITeX  r?""°;  '"  """  °"^  *^-  "»' 
for  we  we,^  no    a  '  Z     I       "'  "' P"™«™g  i"  argument, 

con^ctness  of  hi.  LTrLLn        °°''  "■°"'™'  -="  "■""«  ■>» 
— rrty-^fl'*:.'!  '»'■- "-..bis  fact  malces 

.uantly  found  s/atl^^rbirrsn  h-Z'tot'  T'«  ^^ 
mountain-swales  wJi;i«  A.  „  iiiH-tops,  and  m  euch 

*engh  not  .'1:^::^^^  .tSy^tb^eTr"- 
general  migration  en  »».  ,„  .uch  locaC  ""'  '"  " 

It,  however,  my  half-formed  opinion—for  ;,  ■ 
correct,  the  biixls  are  disperaed  „tT  i    .  °°  ™'-^be 

a-  only  to  bo  found,  cl^  y'       ZlZT  '^  T''  ''" 
never  in  greater  numba,,,  ^  ""^°  "■■  *""'  ""d 

J!:  triratT^at/reir "™  r'""^  -- 
^  does  the  -r :r:7re^rTrr:::r:: 


196 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


li 


return  until  the  premature  cold  of  northern  Canada  drives  them 
back,  to  tarry  with  us  a  few  months  on  their  way  southward. 

Should  this  prove  to  be  the  case,  the  Woodcock,  instead  of 
being  termed  with  us  a  summer  bird  of  passage,  must  be 
regarded  as  a  spring  and  autumnal  visitant,  like  his  congener, 
the  Snipe — with  this  difference,  that  the  Snipe  rarely  breeds 
with  us,  going  northward  to  nidificate,  while  his  fellow-emigrant, 
our  Scolopax,  invariably  rears  his  young  before  going  farther 
toward  the  frosts  of  the  northern  pole. 

Of  these  suggestions  my  readers  must  judge  whether  is 
the  better  of  the  two ;  one  of  the  two  I  believe  to  be  the  only 
way  for  accounting  for  the  Woodcock's  shoit  disappearance  at 
this  season.  For  the  rest,  as  I  leaned  at  first  to  the  fonner,  so 
do  I  now  rather  mcline  toward  the  latter  belief,  facts  not  bear- 
ing out  the  former  to  my  satisfaction,  although  I  do  not  think 
the  question  has  been,  as  yet,  fully  tested  by  experiment. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  here,  that  this  question  is  yearly  becom- 
ing, in  these  districts,  more  difficult  of  solution  ;  and  I  am  the 
more  strenuous  in  noting  this  emigration,  because  things  may 
come,  ere  long,  to  such  a  pass,  that  it  will  become  wholly 
undistinguishable. 

When  I  first  shot  in  New-Jersey,  and  in  the  river  counties 
of  New- York,  the  disappearance  of  the  birds  was  evident 
enough  ;  because,  up  to  a  certain  day,  they  abounded,  and  afVer 
that,  were  not.  Now,  long  before  the  second  week  of  July, 
the  Woodcock  are  extei-minated  in  their  summer  haunts  for 
miles  and  miles  around  our  large  cities ;  too  many  of  them, 
alas !  slaughtered  before  the  season,  when  scarcely  able  to  flv 
— when  nearly  unfit  for  the  table — when  a  game  despicable  to 
the  loyal  sportsman,  and  a  victim  easy  to  the  pot-hunting  knave, 
who  goes  gunning  with  a  half-bred,  half-broken  cur,  and  a  Ger- 
man  fowling-piece,  dear  at  a  dollar's  purchase. 
Oh  !  gentlemen  legislators — gentlemen  sportsmen, 

"  Reform  it  altogether !" 

Oh  !  ye  choice  spirits,  who  stood  forth,  after  the  long,  hard 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


197 


winter  and  deep  snow-drifts  Quail-destroying  of  1836  to  rescue 

k"i?'''"'  little  fowl  fro™  total  extfncL.  stand    oX: 

Aeda"^^^^^^  -  protection  of  the  Woodcock.     Sufficient  for 

he  day  ,s  the  evil  thereof.  Railroads  are  ruining  the  hopes- 
the  pleasures  of  the  sportsman  ;  our  best  shooting  groundTn^ 

hrnte;    nd  J^'^'V''''''''''''  '^"'^^  '"—^^^^  '<>  the  pot- 
hunter and  the  poacher,  may  now  be  reached  for  fifty  cents  • 

ofT  JfTedir^^  ''7  ^" : '-'''  '^y '  -^'  -  -pt  i 

ot  half-fledged  younglings,  by  men,  boys,  and  bunglers  and 
ruhlessly  devoured  before  the  season  h'as  set  in.  b/  gn'orant 
voracious  cockneys.  ^   'g"orani 

Reform  it  altogether!' 
Enact  that  the  Woodcock  shall  not  be  slain-shall  not  be 

y=  god.  of  woodcraft!  Sylva™  and  Faun, I  and  hm,  S 
of  the  h„n,er.  Pan  ,  what  ap„„  shall  we  have  in  bro™  OcTo 
ber,  when  the  aere  u„derbn,.h  is  ba,^  of  leaves  to  Tar  1, 
.pomn,a„.s  ain,,  when  the  cool  dewy  eanb  send;  „p  ZZ 
of  the  game  m  fresh  steams  to  the  Setter's  keen  and  sagadols 
no^ ,  when  the  pnre  air  braces  the  nerves  and  fans  te  brow 
dehcous,    when    the   full-grown,    white-fronted,    pink-legged 

yards,  bu   on  a  vigorous  and  whistling  pi„i„„,  wi  h  sharp-piping 
alarm  note,  swrf.  as  a  rifle-bulle.,  soaring  away  through  Z 

.    Him,  no  boy  can  blaze  at,  his  twenty  times  in  \..w       i, 
and  s^ugbter  after  all  with  one  chance^!:  pp  "y  ti- 

ed down  „,*W  one !     Him  can  no  German  gun  a^lvl  of 
caat-ron,  scattenng  its  shot  over  a.  a^a  of  twenty  feet  hTnn 


II 


l: 


198 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


less  at  twenty  yards  !     Him  can  no  cur-dog  flush  in  gun-shot 
of  pot-hunting  poucher. 

No !  gentle  reader,  him,  whether  he  lies  in  the  tufted  fern  and 
wintergreens,  or  the  dry  slope  of  some  waim,  westering  hill- 
side,  among  second-growth  of  brown  oak  and  chestnut;  whether 
he  wades  among   the  shallow  mud-pools,  sheltered   by   fern, 
dock-leaves,  and  dark  colt's-foot,  of  some  deep  maple  swamp, 
it  needs  the  stealthy  pace,  the  slow,  cat-like,  guarded  motion,  the 
instinctive   knowledge  of  the  giound,  the  perfect  nose,  and 
absolute  docility,  which  belong  only  to  the  thorough  dog  of  the 
thorough  sportsman,  to  find  certainly,  and  stand   staunchly  ! 
Him,  whether  he  flap  up,  seen  for  one  second  only,  among  the 
leafless  stems,  and  lost  the  next  among  the  tufted  tops  of  the 
yet  verdant  alders ;    whether  he  soar   away,  with   his   sharj) 
whistle,  far,  far  above  the  red  and  yellow  tree  tops;  whether  he 
pitch  now  here,  now  there,  sharply  and  suddenly,  among  the 
close  saplings,  it  needs  the  eye  of  faith,  the  finger  of  instinct, 
the  steady  nerve,  the  deliberate  celerity,  the  marking  glance, 

which   characterise   the  sportsman— the  crack  shot,    who as 

poor  Cypress  averred  truly— is  bom  like  the  poet,  not  made 
like  the  orator— to  cut  down  at  his  speed ;  not  wing-tipped  or 
leg-broken,  but  riddled  by  the  concentrated  charge,  turned 
over  and  over  in  mid  air,  arrested  mercifully  by  quick  and 
unerring  death,  and  falling  with  a  heavy  thud,  which  tells  good 
things  of  ten  ounces'  weight,  on  the  broivn  leaves  of  gorgeous 
autumn. 

My  words  are  weak  to  describe  the  full  charm  of  this  noble 
pastime— noble,  when  followed  as  it  should  be,  in  the  true  ani- 
mus  and  ardxjr  of  the  chase— but  most  ignoble  when  perverted 
to  base,  culinary,  carnal,  gluttonous,  self-seeking  purposes- 
weak  are  they,  when  compared  with  the  vivid  and  heart-thril- 
ling  reality— yet  even  thus,  they  will  have  done  their  duty  if  they 
succeed  in  arousing  the  attention  of  the  true  friends  of  sports- 
manship throughout  the  land,  to  this  most  interesting  subject. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  Woodcock  returns,  whether  old  or  young,  to 
the  same  place  where  he  was  bred  and  where  he  has  reared  his 


^ 


PPLAND   SHOOTING. 


109 


young,  if  unmolested.     If  persecuted  and  shot  off,  year  after 
year,  on  his  very  breeding  ground,  and  while  he  was  in  the 

Wat;  I  "n""  P-of  positive.  In  the  immediate  vicinity  ot 
Wai  wick  m  Orange  county,  within  two  miles  of  the  village. 
U^ie  re  twenty  little  woods  and  swamps,  each  of  which  used  ten 
o.  twelve  years  ago  to  be  a  certain  find  in  July  for  two,  three  or 
more  broods  of  birds.  It  was  easy  shooting  and  easy  marking 
giound.  and  year  after  year  I  and  my  party-at  that  time  n! 

clean       Tht  "  ^«^-"~k'"«d  ^^  the  whole  summer  stock! 

Clean.      The  consequence  was.  that  long  before  the  general 

hoo  ing  of  the  district  was  affected  by  the  march  of  intel  ec^ 

mile  or  two  farther  off.  those  swamps  ceased  even  to  hold  a 
summer  brood      Twenty  birds  killed  in  a  wood,  twenty  ty 
n  succession  mjure  that  wood  less  as  a  home  for  Woodcock 
than  ten  killed  once  in  July.     Hence  as  fnr  fifV.    .1,      """^o^K 
T  „„„  ;c  , ,  ,  -^      -^ence,  as  tor  htly  other  reasons, 

sum^      T  ''"'  '^'^'^^"'^'^  «^««^-g  -t  all,  away  with 

lull     w      u   "'  ""^"''   y'^"  *=^««««  t«  «^«ept  Snipe 
although  for  the  exception  I  can  see  no  reason,  unless  it  isX 

11    d  2  h  r""'""  ''  ^'^'^-  """^^^'^^^  ^-«  P-'P-ble 

I  had  the  honor  to  lay  a  draft  of  a  petition  to  the  New- York 

UP  and  the  d  T"  -^  wi„,ei-1846-7-which  las  taken 
up,  and  the  draft  printed.     I  regret  to  say  that,  from  prudential 

iTerZo^^lrr^^'^  ''  -ny  good  Sportsmen,  LT^^ 
pension  of  difficulty  m  getting  a  sufficiency  of  signatures  action 
on  It  has  been  pos  poned  for  the  present 

I  am  still  myself  satisfied,  that  the  measure  therein  proposed 
or  some  other  nearly  akin  to  it,  is  the  last  and  only  hope  leTt ' 
sportsmen    of  preservine-   anv   tir,^      e  ,       ^  ^ 

Woodcock,  amoVus     *       "^        ''   °^  *^''"'°'  '""  ^»P'^"''% 

The  domestic  habits  of  the  Quail,  his  haunting  homestead, 
-d  heconnng  to  some  degree  a  pet  of  the  faL~:; 


fMi 


800 


FRANK   F0HE£1£U'S    FIELD   SPORTS. 


more,  his  indigenousness  to  the  land,  acts  in  a  conHiderable 
degree  as  a  protection  to  him.  But  the  Woodcock,  who  is  a 
mere  emigrant,  here  to-day  and  away  to-monow,  has  no 
domestic  friend,  no  landlord  to  protect  him,  and  men  forget  that 
if  spared,  he  will  as  surely  return  to  breed  in  the  same  wood 
again,  bringing  all  his  progeny  with  him  to  increase  and  mul- 
tiply,  as  the  tepid  winds  and  warm  showers  of  April  and  May 
will  succeed  to  the  easterly  gales  and  snow  drifts  of  March,  and 
the  leaves  be  green  in  summer  from  the  buds  which  burst  in 
spring. 

My  game  law,  such  as  it  is,  will  be  found  in  the  appenijix  to 
Upland  Shooting.  I  believe  it  would  be  useful  as  it  is,  but 
should  any  sportsman  or  any  society  of  sportsmen  be  able  to 
concoct  one  better  either  in  practice,  or  in  the  probability  of 
success,  I  and  all  my  friends,  and  those  who  think  with  me  on 
the  subject,  are  prepared  to  support  it.  Unity  of  action  is  the 
one  thing  ndfedful;  and  that  cannot  be  attained  if  every  man 
holds  out  resolutely  for  his  own  crotchet. 

Let  the  principle  once  be  affirmed  and  made  good,  and  the 
details  are  of  infinitely  minor  importance.  They  will  follow 
For  the  rest,  what  is  to  be  done,  must  be  done  quickly,  or  we 
shall  be  liable  to  the  ridicule  which  falls  on  the  t^r  Ay  faineant 
who  locks  his  stable  door  after  the  horee  is  stolen. 

Three  or  four  more  seasons  like  the  two  last,  and  the  ques- 
tion  will  be  settled  to  our  hands,  and  if  we  do  not  bestir 
ourselves  now,  we  shall  find  ere  long  that  we  shall  have  neither 
summer  nor  autumn  Cock-shooting  within  a  hundred  miles  oi 
the  seaboard. 


VThAKD  SHOOTING. 


SOI 


UPLAND    PLOVER    SHOOTING. 


ITH  the  end  of  July,  all  that  can 
properly  be  called  shooting,  as  a  gen- 
uine sport,  is  at  an  end.  The  Wood- 
cock,  as  I  have  already  stated,  is  no 
longer  to  be  found,  whether  he  be 
^  lying  perdu  on  the  mountain  tops,  or 
off  on  a  wilder  wing  for  the  far  north. 
The  Snipe  has  not  yet  begun  to  re- 
turn fiom  his  arctic  breeding  places ;  the  Quail  is  still  busy 
with  her  eggs,  or  her  fledgling  cheepers;  and  the  Ruffed  Grouse, 
although  her  young  are  already  two-thirds  grown,  is  protected 
by  the  game-laws  until  the  first  day  of  November. 

This  last  protecti-n  by  the  way,  is  as  absurd  in  point  of  fact, 
as  everything  connected  with  the  game  laws  of  the  States. 

All  the  varieties  of  Grouse  are  early  breeders ;  their  young 
come  rapidly  to  maturity ;  when  full-grown  they  are  as  wild  aa 
hawks ;  and  at  all  times,  from  their  own  habits,  and  the  peculi- 
arity of  the  ground  on  which  they  reside,  they  take  better  care 
of  themselves,  than  any  other  species  of  winged  game.     The 
breeding  season  of  these  birds  commences  in  May;  early  in 
June  the  young  birds  can  fly  ;  and  by  the  middle  of  September 
they   are  full-gi-own.      There  is  this  peculiarity  about  them, 
moreover,  that  they  do  not,  as  all  other  birds  of  this  order,' 
rasores,  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  keep  together  in  broods  or 
coveys  until  the  commencement  of  the  next  breeding  season  ; 
but  separate  altogether,  and  ramble  about  either  as  single  indi- 
viduals,  or  in  small  parties,  during  the  autumn  and   winter.  . 


1 


202 


FRANK    FORESTRh's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Aflor  this  separation   has  once  taken  place,   the  hiuh,   l.oth 
younpr  and  old,  are  so  wild  that  they  will  rarely  or  never  lii-  to 
be  pointed  by  a  dog,  unlesH  they  are  found  by  chance  in  «on.e 
very  rlcnno  brake  or  grass-grown  thicket,  in  which  they  cannot 
run  ;  and  consequently  there  is  no  chance  of  having  any  sj)ort 
with    them,    after    they   have  once    ceased  to  keep   company 
This,  I  think.  theySnvariably  do.  before  the  law  permits  that 
they  should  be  shot.     Consequently,  although  I  have  often 
been  in  regions  where  they  abound,  I  have  never  found  it  worth 
the  while  to  go  out  to  hunt  for  them  especially.     They  are  a 
bird  of  a  very  rambling  disposition,  here  to-day  and  miles  off  to- 
morrow,  frequenting  the  roughest  and  most  inaccessible  moun- 
tain-sides,  evergreen  thickets,  and  woods  of  hemlock,  pine  or 
red  cedar ;  and  I  liave  never  seen,  and  never  expect  to  see  the 
place  where  a  sportsman  can  be  su(e  of  getting  a  dozen  shots 
over  points,  or  feven  half  that  number,  in  a  day's  hard  walkin-r 
Add  to  this,  that  if  the  Ruffed  Grouse  be  the  particular  object 
of  pursuit,  there  is  no  chance  of  finding  any  other  species  of 
game,  unless  it  be  a  few  Hares  ;  for  the  haunts  of  this  solitary 
and  mountain-loving  misanthrope  are  too  wild  and  rude  for 
the  domestic  Quail,  and  too  arid  for  the  Woodcock. 

In  autumn  shooting,  stragglers  are  often  met  on  Quail 
ground,  in  low  thickets,  bog-meadow  edges,  and  the  like  and 
then  they  afford  good  sport,  and  often  make  a  great  addition  to 
the  bag;  but  the  only  way  is  to  take  them  as  you  find  them 
and  if  you  find  them,  be  thankful ;  but  never  deviate  from  your 
regular  line  of  beat  in  order  to  find,  or  to  follow  them  ;  if  you 
do.  sure  disappointment  awaits  you.  The  best  day  I  ever  had 
with  Ruffed  Grouse,  was  in  the  low.  dense  thickets  on  t.c  cdee 
of  the  Big  Piece,  in  New-Jersey,  m  the  winter  of  1837-  wi  -n 
there  were  a  vast  quantity  of  Quail  in  that  region ;  uvl  I  had 
not  the  least  expectation  of  finding  more  than  a  chance  strag- 
gler  or  two  of  the  Grouse.  With  a  fiiend,  however,  I  bagged 
eight  brace  of  these  birds,  fairly  pointed,  which  I  consider  great 
sport,  aa  I  have  never  before  or  since  seen  an  opportunity  of 
doing  ,,,  ru^aiter  of  the  work,  though  I  have  taken  long  joui-neys 


T7PLAND   SHOOTINO. 


SO.l 


for  tl.o  oRpecial  purpose  of  gvUiufr  this  sport  in  perfection.  If 
tlu,  law  authorized  th..  shooting  them  in  September,  or  at  the 
latest  on  the  fii-st  of  0,-tol.or,  there  are  many  districts  (,f  the 
••..untry,  where  tlie  Rufled  Gmuso  wouhl  afford  great  sport  to 
those,  who  wouhl  take  tlio  trouble  to  pursue  them  into  their 
fiHtuesses,  which  recjuires  considerable  strength  and  activity. 

In   the  meantime,  however,  while   there   is  no    legitimate 
upland  shooting  to  bo  had— },y  Legitimate,  I  mean  that,  which 
u  fidlowed  with  dogs,  whether  Setter,  Pointer  or  Spaniel,  in  a 
legitimate  and  scientific  manner— there  comes  into  piny,  at  the 
very    critical    moment,  the  "  Hartramian    Sandpiper,"    bettor 
known  as  the  "Upland  Plover"-" Grass  Plover"— "Field  Plo- 
ver,"  or  "  Frost  Bird"— which  as  far  as  a  hmne  hmche  f„r  the 
epicure  goes,  is  inferior  in  my  judgment  to  no  bird  that  flies, 
unless  it  be  the  Canvass-Back;  and  there,  with  the  Chancellor, 
Idouht  /     As  a  game-bird,  and  olyoct  of  pursuit,  I  do  not  my- 
self care  about  him,  the  mndm  operandi  does  not  suit  my  book, 
or  entertain  me  ;  nevertheless,  there  is  much  skill  displayed  in 
circumventing,  or  as  Major  Docherty  would  say,  surrounding 
this  wily  bird,  and  as  frequently  a  very  large  number  may  be 
brought  to  the  bag,  it  is  with  some  persons  a  very  favorite 
sport. 

This  bird,  which  by  the  way  is  not  a  Plover,  though  very 
nearly  allied  to  that  species,  is  stated  by  Mr.  Aububon  to  arrive 
m  the  Middle  States,  early  in  May,  to  reach  Maine  by  the  mid. 
die  of  that  month,  to  breed  from  Maryland  northward  to  the 
Sashatchewan,  and  to  winter  in  Texas  and  Mexico. 

It  is  shot,  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  from  Massachu- 
setts  to  Pennsylvania,  during  the  months  of  August  and 
September,  and  in  fact,  until  it  is  driven  southward  by  the 
frosts ;  although  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  it  is  also  killed 
abundantly  so  far  south  as  the  neighborhood  of  Charieston  S 
C,  as  early  as  the  middle  of  July.  The  great  majority  of  'the 
birds  shot  in  these  districts  is  certainly  not  composed  of  those 
only  which  are  bred  here  ;  but  is  continually  swelled  by  flocks 
coming  down  successively  from  the  north-eastward,  where  I 


!l 


li 

i 

IB  ! 


204 


FRANK   FORESO'^r's   FIELD   Si'ORTS. 


imagine  they  breed,  in  far  greater  quantities  than  within  the 
confines  of  the  States. 

On  their  arrival  here  they  frequent,  wlierevdr  such  exist, 
wide,  upland  downs  or  moors,  covered  with  short,  close  turf; 
and  are  fou  id  in  greater  numbars  in  Rhode  Island,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Newport,  than  in  any  other  district  with  whirh  I  am  ac- 
quainted ;  although  from  the  aspect  of  the  country,  th^  nature 
of  the  soil,  and  the  quality  of  the  grass  lands,  I  cannot  doubt  but 
that  they  nmst  exist  abundantly  along  the  Atlantic  coasts  of  the 
State  of  Maine.     Comparatively  speaking,  there  are  few  sports^ 
men  in  that  region,  as  is  the  case  in  all  new  countries,'  where 
men  hunt  for  profit  or  for  provision,  not  for  sport,  and  where 
the  pursuit  of  the      rger  animals  is  so  common  and  so  well 
rewarded,  as  to  render  the  shooting  of  birds  or.  the  wing  rare, 
and  in  the  eyes  of  the  community  rather  ridiculous.     The  con- 
sequence of  this  is,  that  the  capabilities  of  the  country  in  a 
sporting  view,  are  unknov/n ;  and  the  species  of  game,  to  be 
found  in  it,  almost  certainly  lost  to  the  sporting  world. 

In  June,  1840, 1  saw  several  of  these  birds,  with  young,  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  cf  the  city  of  Bangor  ;  and  I  have  liltle 
or  no  doubt  that,  were  proper  means  taken,  great  numbers 
might  be  procured  at  the  proper  season  in  that  region. 

Ihe  Field  Plover  is  abundant  in  the  Boston  markets  during 
the  season;  and  I  believe  they  are  sufficiently  common  to  afford 
amusement  to  the  sportsmen  of  that  country,  ^hough  I  am  not 
aware  in  what  parts  of  the  State  they  are  most  frequent. 

On  the  plains  in  the  vicinity  of  Hempstead,  Long  Island,  they 
used  to  abound  ;  and  they  still  frequent  that  country,  although 
not  nearly  so  numerous  as  they  wore  some  yearb  since.  In  New 
Jersey  they  are  very  rare,  owing  to  the  nature,  I  imagine,  of 
the  soil,  and  the  face  of  the  country;  for  these  birds  are  the 
least  maritime  of  their  race,  and  never,  I  think,  frequent  salt 
marshes,  or  water  meadows  of  any  kind  ;  of  which  most  of  the 
low  lands  m  New  Jersey  consist,  while  its  hills  are  not  open 
slieep-walks,  but  rocky  and  wooded  fastnesses,  equally  unfit  for 
this  Sandpiper's,  abode. 


trPLAND   SHOOTING. 


20.'> 


Whero  vast  unenclosed  plains  are  not  to  be  found,  this  bird 
loves   to^  haunt  large   hill   pastures,  fallow-fields,   and   newly 
ploughed  grounds,  where  it  finds  the  various  kinds  of  insect  food 
to  which  It  IS  so   partial,_gi.asshoppers,  beetles,  and    all  the 
small  coleopterous  flies  common  to  such  localities,  in  the  grass 
lands-and  worms,  small  snails,  and  the  like,  on  the  fallows.  ' 
The  Upland  Plover  is  a  shy  and  timid  bird  ;  and,  on  foot,  it 
18,  tor  the  most  part,  nearly  impossible  to  approach  it.     It  feeds 
on  ground  such  as  I  have  described,  in  small  companies-they 
cannot  be  called  flodcs,  for  they  do  not  usually  act  in  conceit, 
or  fly  together,  rising,  if  they  are  startled,  one  by  one,  and  each 
taking  Its  own  course,  without  heeding  its  companions~this,  by 
the  way,  I  have  noticed  as  a  peculiarity  of  all  the  upland  scolo- 
pactd^,  none  of  which  fly,  so  far  as  T  have  ever  observed,  in 
large  bodies,  wheeling  and  turning  simultaneously,  at  a  signal 
as  IS  the  practice,  mo^e  or  less,  of  all  the  maritime  Sandpipers,' 
rmlers.  Plovers,  and  Phalaropes.     While  i-unning  swiftly  over 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  they  utter  a  very  peculiar  and  plain- 
tive  whistle,  exceedingly  mellow  and  musical,  which  has  the 
remarkable  quality  of  appearing  to  be  sounded  close  at  hand 
when  It  IS  in  reality  uttered  at  a  very  considerable  distance.     l[ 
IS  this  note  which  frequently  gives  the  first  notice  to  the  sports- 
man, that  he  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  bird ;  and  it  also  gives  him 
notice  that  the  bird  is  aware  of  him,  and  out  of  his  reach ;  for 
no  sooner  is  it  uttered,  than  the  Sandpiper  either  takes  wing  at 
once,  or  runs  very  rapidly  to  some  distance,  and  then  rising 
sweeps  round  and  round  in  aerial  circles,  and  alights  again  oui 
of  distance.     If  wing-tipped,  or  slightly  wounded,  it  runs  so  ra- 
pidly as  to  set  pursuit  at  defiance,  and  then  squats  behind  some 
clod  of  earth,  or  tuft  of  grass,  to  the  colors  of  which  its  beauti- 
fully mottled  plumage  so  nearly  assimilates  it,  that  it  cannot  be 
distinguished,  without  great  difficulty,  among  the  leaves  aud 
herbage. 

I  have  oiily  shot  this  Sandpiper  myself,  on  a  tract  of  upland 
pasture  and  ploughed  land  near  to  Bristol,  in  Pennsylvania, 
known  as  "Livingston  Manor,"  where  I  found  the  birds  very 


Ill  f 

ml 


S06 


FRANK   FOHESTER's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


plentiful,  and  in  excellent  condition,  during  the  month  of 
August,  in  the  year  1844.  The  country  being  closely  enclosed 
with  stout  timber  fences,  it  is  impracticable  either  to  drive  up 
to  them  in  a  two-wheeled  carriage,  which  is  by  far  the  prefera- 
ble mode  of  pursuing  them,  or  to  stalk  them  on  horseback  ; 
although  I  am  of  opinion  that  great  sport  might  be  had  there 
with  a  pony  that  could  fence  well,  and  stand  fire  steadily.  The 
men  who  shoot  them  for  the  market  there,  build  bough-houses, 
in  which  to  lie  hid,  or  conceal  themselves  in  the  comers  of 
maize-fields,  or  behind  any  casual  hiding-places  the  countiy 
may  offer,  while  their  companions  scatter  about  the  fields,  driv- 
ing the  birds  to  and  fi-o,  and  rendering  them,  of  course,  exceed- 
ingly wild ;  yet  a  considerable  number  are  shot  thus,  as  they 
fly  over  their  concealed  enemies.  This  mode  of  proceeding  is, 
of  course,  unendurable  to  the  sportsman.  By  the  aid  of  Eley's 
wire  cartridges,  red  and  blue,  of  No.  6  shot,  however,  I  con- 
trived to  get  moderately  good  sport,  walking  about  in  pursuit 
of  them,  and  taking  my  chance  at  those  driven  over  me  by  other 
parties.  I,  one  day,  bagged  sixteen  birds  thus  ;  but  it  would 
have  been  a  hundred  to  one  against  getting  a  single  Sandpiper, 
with  loose  shot ;  as  I  am  certain  that  not  ono  bird  fell  within 
fifty  yards  of  me. 

This  Sandpiper  flies  very  swiftly,  and  when  on  the  Aving 
shews  like  a  very  large  bird,  owing  to  the  great  length  of  its 
sharp-pointed  wings.  At  first  sight,  you  would  suppose  it  to  be 
as  large  as  a  pigeon,  although  its  body  is  not,  in  truth,  very 
much  larger  than  that  of  the  common  Snipe,  or  intermediate  be- 
tween that  and  the  Woodcock,  while  the  extent  of  its  wings 
from  tip  to  tip  exceed  either  of  these,  by  nearly  one-fourth. 
Like  many  other  species  of  wild  birds,  this  Sandpiper  is  ex- 
tremely cunning,  and  appears  to  be  able  to  calculate  the  range 
of  a  fowling-piece  with  great  nicety ;  and  you  will  constantly 
find  them  sitting  perfectly  at  their  ease,  until  a  few  paces  more 
would  bring  you  within  shot  of  them,  and  then  rising,  with 
their  provoking  whistle,  just  when  you  believe  yourself  sure  of 
getting  a  crack  at  them.     In  the  same  manner  they  will  circle 


») 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


207 


round  you,  or  fly  past  you,  just  out  of  gunshot,  tempting  you  all 
the  time  with  hopes  tha»  will  still  prove  false,  unless  you  have 
some  such  device  as  Eley's  cartridges,  by  which  to  turn  the 
shrewdness  of  this  cunning  little  schemer  to  its  own  destruc- 
tion. 

In  Rhode  Island,  where  alone  the  sport  is  now  pursued  sys- 
tematically, the  mode  adopted  is  this, — the  shooter,  accompa- 
nied by  a  skilful  driver,  on  whom,  by  the  way,  the  whole  onus 
of  the  business  rests,  and  to  whom  all  the  merit  of  success,  if 
attained,  is  attributable,  is  mounted  in  what  is  termed  in  New 
England  a  chaise,  that  is  to  say,  an  old-fashioned  gig  with  a  top. 
In  this  convenience,  he  kneels  down,  with  his  left  leg  out  of  the 
carriage,  and  his  foot  fii-mly  planted  on  the  step,  holding  his 
gun  ready  to  shoot  at  an  instant's  notice.     The  driver,  perceiv- 
ing the  birds,  as  they  are  running  and  feeding  on  the  open  sur- 
face, selects  one,  according  to  his  judgment,  and  drives  round  it 
rapidly  in  concentric  circles,  until  he  gets  within  gunshot  of  it, 
and  perceives  by  its  motions  that  it  will  not  permit  a  nearer  ap- 
proach.    He  then  makes  a  short  half  turn  from  it,  pulling  the 
horse  short  up,  at  the  same  instant ;  and  at  that  very  same  in- 
stant, for  the  Sandpiper  rises  invariably  at  the  moment  in  which 
the  chaise  stops,  the  shooter  steps  out  lightly  to  the  ground,  and 
kills  his  bird,  before  it  has  got  well  upon  the  wing.     In  the 
timing  of  all  this  various  work,  on  the  part  of  the  driver  and  the 
gunner,  there  is  a  good  deal  of  skill  requisite,  and,  of  course,  a 
good  deal  of  excitement.     But  the  real  sport,  and  the  real  skill, 
are  both  on  the  part  of  the  driver,  whose  duty  it  is  to  deliver 
his  marksman  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  game,  yet  never  to 
nin  the  thing  so  close,  as  to  allow  the  Sandpiper  to  take  wing 
before  he  has  pulled  up.     The  difference  in  the  judgment  and 
skill  of  drivers  is  immense ;  and  there  is  one  gentleman  in  New 
York,  a  well-known,  and  old  friend  of  the  public,  who  is  said  to 
be  so  infinitely  superior  to  all  others,  that  the  gun  in  his  chaise, 
even  if  it  be  handled  by  the  inferior  shot,  is  sure  to  come  off 
the  winner.     It  is  not  unusual,  I  am  told,  to  bag  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  couple  of  these  delicious  birds  in  a  day's  sport, 


^■ 


208 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


in  this  manner,  and  I  have  heard  of  infinitely  greater  quantities 
being  brought  to  bag. 

The  record  of  some  almost  incredible  number,  killed  by  three 
guns,  was  published  last  year  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Times,  and 
by  well-known  sportsmen ;  but  I  have  never  tried  the  sport 
myself,  and  cannot  therefore  speak  to  it,  I  am  told,  it  is  vastly 
exciting  and  amusing,— but  I  have  been  told  the  same  thing 
about  lying  flat  on  your  back  in  a  battery,  off  Fire-island  Inlet— 
and  I  can  only  say,  judging  from  analogy,  that  it  may  be  very 
well  for  once  or  twice,  or  to  kill  a  few  hours  when  there  is  no 
other  sport  to  be  had,  but  that  it  must  be  awfully  slow  work,  as 
compared  vnth  any  soit  of  field  shooting,  on  which  the  instinct 
and  intelligence  of  dogs  can  be  brought  to  bear.  To  see  them 
work  is,  I  think,  more  than  half  the  battle. 

After  all,  any  shooting — except  shooting  sitting — is  better 
than  no  shooting ;  and  I  have  no  doubt,  if  I  were  at  Rhode 
Island,  in  the  proper  season,  I  should  be  found  chaising  k,  as 
eagerly  as  any  body  else,  I  am  sure  I  do  not  know  why  I 
should  not,  since  older,  and  I  dare  say,  better  sportsmen  than 
myself  swear  by  it. 

This,  then,"  is  the  connecting  link  between  the  autumn  and 
spring  shooting  of  the  Uplands,     For  those  who  like  them.  Bay 
shooting,  at  all  the  varieties  of  Plovers,  Sandpipei-s,  Tattlers, 
Phalaropes,  and  Curlews,  known  along  shore  as  "  Bay  Snipe," 
is  to  be  had,  in  full  force,  everywhere  from  Cape  Cod,  or  fur 
ther  eastward,  to  Cape  May,  during  the  months  of  July,  August, 
and  September ;  and,  in  the  end  of  August,  Rail  shooting  com- 
mences on  the  Delaware  and  adjacent  rivers;  but  of  these  I 
shall  treat  in  their  places, — since  the  foi-mer  must  be  regarded 
as  Coast  shooting,  and  the  latter  cannot  be  classed  with  Upland 
sport,  although  it  is  only  pursued  inland. 

With  Plover  shooting,  therefore,  the  sports  of  the  summer 
months  end;  and,  with  the  month  of  October,  the  jolliest,  hear- 
tiest month  of  the  whole  year,  despite  of  what  Mr,  Bryant  says 
of  *'  the  melancholy  days"  of  autumn,  the  real  season  has  its 
commencement  ;  and  thereafter  the  woodlands,  the  stubbles, 
and  the  raountain's-brow,  are  the  true  sportsman's  Paradise. 


^^ 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


209 


AUTUMN   COCK   SHOOTING. 


i  ! 


UTUMN  shooting, 
which  is  par 
excellence  the 
true  spoit 
of  the  true 
sportsman — 
cannot  be 
...  said  to  have 
Its  beginning  on  any  particular  day,  or  even  in  any  particular 
month  of  the  season. 

Its  commencement  is  regulated  by  the  return  of  the  Wona- 
cock,  after  its  brief  August  migration  ;  and,  the  period  of  th  it 
return  being  uncertain,  and  dependant  on  the  state  of  the  wea- 
ther, and  other  influences,  with  which  we  are  not  fully  ac- 
quainted, the  sportsman  has  only  to  bide  his  time,  and  take  the 
season  as  he  finds  it. 

In  truth,  the  variation  of  the  autumnal  season  is  in  this  res- 
pect very  great,  as  regards  both  the  Woodcock  and  the  Snipe. 
1  have  shot  both  of  these  birds  together,  in  considerable  num- 
bers, on  the  same  ground,  so  early  as  the  12th  or  15th  of  Sep- 
tember ;  and  again,  in  other  seasons,  neither  the  one  nor  the 
other  bird  have  made  their  appearance  until  so  late  as  the  mid- 
dle of  October. 

As  a  general  rule,  however,  I  should  say  that  Woodcock  be- 
gin to  return  to  the  Atlantic  States,  in  ordinary  seasons,  about 
the  middle  of  September,  and  the  Snipe  about  the  first  of  Octo- 
VOL.1.  24 


210 


FRANK   FORESTER  S   FIELD   SPORTS. 


If 


ber, — the  latter  bird  being  for  tlie  most  part  a  few  days  behind 
his  congener. 

It  is  very  well  worthy  of  remark,  both  by  the  sportsman  and 
the  scientific  ornithologist,  that  on  their  return  in  the  autumn, 
neither  the  Woodcock  nor  the  Snipe  are  found  precisely  on 
the  same  ground,  which  they  use  in  spring  ;  and  I  am  inclined 
to  believe,  that  a  more  thorough  investigation  of  this  fact,  might 
lead  to  the  acquisition  of  more  knowledge  than  we  possess  at 
present,  concerning  the  causes  of  the  migration  of  our  various 
birds  of  passage. 

In  my  articles  on  spring  Snipe,  and  summer  Cock  shooting, 
I  have  obsewed  that  at  these  seasons  the  two  birds  frequently 
appear  to  change  their  habits  £nd  haunts  mutually  ;  the  former 
being  veiy  often  found  in  low  bmshwood,  and  among  dense 
briar,  patches,  and  the  latter,  even  more  commonly,  on  open, 
rushy,  water  meadows,  without  a  bush  or  particle  of  covert  in 
the  vicinity. 

In  no  respect  does  this  ever  happen  in  the  autumn.  I  have 
seen  no  instance  myself,  nor  have  I  heard  of  any  from  the  most 
constant  and  regular  country  sportsman,  who  have  the  best  op 
portunity  of  noting  such  peculiarities,  of  the  Snipe  ever  resort- 
ing even  to  the  thinnest  covert  on  wood-edges,  much  less  to 
dense  coppices  and  tall  woodlands,  in  the  autumn.  Nor  have  T 
ever  seen  a  Woodcock  on  open  meadow  in  that  season. 

In  Salem  county,  in  New  Jersey,  this  latter  fact  is  very 
strongly  demonstrated;  inasmuch  as  during  the  summer  the 
birds  are  hunted  entirely,  and  foui'-fifths  of  them  killed,  on  what 
would  elsewhere  be  called  regular  Snipe  ground,  or  in  small 
brakes  along  the  dykes  and  river  margins  ;  and  there  is  no  finer 
summer  Cock  ground  than  this  county,  in  the  whole  State. 

In  the  autumn,  on  the  contrary,  when  the  bird  seeks  other  lo- 
calities, there  is  little  or  no  covert,  such  as  he  loves,  to  be  found 
in  Salem,  and  of  consequence,  there  is  little  or  no  autumn  Cock 
shooting  to  be  had  in  the  southern  district  of  New  Jersey. 

The  Snipe,  on  his  airival,  betakes  himself  at  once  to  the  same 
ranges  of  country,  and  the  same  meadows,  as  in  the  spring; 


#■ 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


211 


and,  with  the  sole  exception  that  it  is  entirely  useless  to  look 
for  him  in  coppices,  or  along  springy  woodsides,  as  I  have  re- 
commended in  wild  weather  in  spring,  his  haunts  and  habits 
are  precisely  the  same. 

He  is  more  settled,  not  being  now  hurried  in  point  of  time, 
or  busied  about  the  pleasures  of  courtship,  or  the  cares  of  nidi- 
fication.  He  lies  harder  before  the  dog,  does  not  fly  so  far 
when  flushed,  and  feels  little  or  no  inclination  to  ramble  about, 
but  adheres  steadily  to  one  feeding  ground,  unless  driven  away 
from  it  by  persecution,  until  the  hard  frosts  of  winter  compel 
him  to  betake  himself  to  the  rice-fields  of  Georgia,  and  the 
muddy  margins  of  the  warm  savannah. 

Moreover,  the  weather  itself  being  at  this  time  steadier,  and 
less  mutable,  the  birds  are  much  less  often  forced  to  move  from 
one  part  of  the  country  to  another,  by  the  fitness  or  unfitness  of 
the  ground.     In  spring  one  year  the  meadows  are  too  wet,  and 
another  perhaps  too  dry,— both  conditions  being  at  times  car- 
ried to  such  an  excess,  as  to  drive  the  birds  off"  altogether,  from 
the  impossibility  of  feeding  or  lying  comfortably.  In  the  autumn 
this  is  rarely,  if  ever,  the  case  ;  and  although  autumn  shooting 
is,  of  course,  in  some  degree  variable— Snipe  being  more  abun- 
dant one  year  than  another— it  never  has  occurred,  within  my 
observation,  that  the  flight  passes  on  altogether  without  pausing, 
or  giving  some  chance  of  sport,  more  or  less,  as  is  not  very  un- 
usually the  consequence  of  a  series  of  droughts  or  rains  in  the 
spring. 

The  Woodcock,  on  his  return  from  the  northward,  or  his  des- 
cent from  the  mountain-tops,  never,  as  a  general  rule,  returns 
precisely  to  the  same  feeding  grounds  which  he  prefers  in  sum- 
mer, during  the  extreme  heats,  but  appears  to  prefer  dry  hill- 
sides, sloping  to  the  sun,  southerly  or  westward,  and  to  choose 
woods  of  young  saplings,  or  sprouts,  as  they  are  commonly 
called  in  this  country,  tall,  wet  maple  groves,  and  second 
growth  of  oak,  adjacent  to  brook  or  meadow  feeding  grounds, 
rather  than  the  dense  coppice,  and  that  variety  of  brakes  and  in- 
tervales, or  glades,  which  he  loves  the  best  in  July.     Thispecu- 


f 

i  ii 


.  41 

.'111  i 


I 


It  hi 


m  1 


ill 


liiK 


yi 


S12 


PRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


hanty  renders  him  a  more  agreeable  object  of  pursuit  at  this 
period  of  the  year,  the  rather  that  he  is  now  found  often  in 
company  with  bevies  of  Quail,  and  that  almost  invariably  the 
latter  bird,  when  flushed  in  the  stubbles  where  he  feeds  flies 
lor  shelter  to  the  very  covert  most  haunted  by  the  Woodcock 

All  this  will,  however,  vary  more  or  less,  according  to  the 
nature  and  face  of  the  country;  for  where  there  is  excellent 
feeding  and  breeding  ground,  not  interspersed  with  the  feniy 
hill-sides,  overgrown  with  young,  thrifty,  thickset  woodland, 
Cock  do  not  desert  the  region,  but  are  found  almost  in  the  same 
haunts  as  in  summer. 

And  where  that  is  the  case,  the  sportsman  may  note  this  dis- 
tinction, that  whereas  in  summer,  when  he  has  once  killed  off- 
clean  the  whole  of  the  one,  two,  or  three  broods,  which  frequent 
a  small  piece  of  coppice,  or  swamp  thicket,  it  will  be  utteriy 
useless  for  him  to  beat  it  again,  he  may  now,  day  after  day,  kill 
every  bird  on  a  piece  of  good  feeding  ground,  and  will  still 
each  succeeding  morning  find  it  supplied  with  its  usual  com- 
plement. 

I  first  learned  this  fact  in  Orange  county,  where,  within  ha/ 
a  mile  of  the  tavern  at  which  I  put  up,  there  is  a  small,  dry, 
tho^y  brake,  with  a  few  tall  trees  on  it.  lying  on  a  sort  of 
island,  surrounded  by  a  very  wet  bog  meadow,  and  half  encir- 
cled by  a  muddy  streamlet,  overhung  with  thick  alders,  the 
whole  aff-air,  brake,  meadow,  and  all.  not  exceeding  three  or 
tour  acres, 

I  knew  the  place  of  old  as  a  certain  summer-find  for  a  single 
brood  of  Cock.  In  October,  on  the  first  day  of  my  visit  to  the 
country.  I  beat  this  brake,  at  throwing  off"  in  the  morning,  and 
bagged  eleven  fine  fall  birds-being  four  or  five  more  than  I 
expected-two  birds  went  away  wild  without  being  shot  at,  and 
could  not  be  found  again.  On  the  following  day.  having  finished 
my  beat  early,  and  it  not  being  above  a  mile  out  of  my  way 
home.  I  thought  I  would  try  to  get  the  two  survivors,  and  was 
much  and  most  agreeably  sui-prised  at  bagging  nine  birds,  all 
that  were  flushed,  on  the  spot. 


'uit  at  this 
1  often  in 
riably  the 
Beds,  flies 
aodcock. 
ig  to  the 
excellent 
the  feniy 
voodlantl, 
the  same 

i  this  dis- 
killed  off 
frequent 
e  utterly 
■  day,  kill 
will  still 
ual  com- 

thin  half 
lall,  dry, 
sort  of 
If  encir- 
3rs,  the 
three  or 

a  single 
it  to  the 
ing,  and 
3  than  I 
;  at,  and 
finished 
ny  way 
nd  was 
irds,  all 


UPLAND    SHOOTINO. 


213 


Being  quite  certain  that  these  were  new  comers,  and  the 
brake  being  a  very  pretty  and  easy  place  in  which  to  get  shots, 
and  mark  birds,  I  beat  it  regularly,  either  going  out,  or  coming 
home,  every  day  during  my  stay  in  the  countiy,  and  bagged 
upon  it,  in  all,  sixty-three  birds  in  six  successive  days. 

This  is  now  very  many  yeare  ago,  but  I  noted  the  fact  from 
its  singularity  at  the  time ;  and  I  have  since  obsei-ved,  that  in 
'pertain  highly  favored  places,  this  may  be  regularly  looked  for; 
and  I  would  never  recommend  a  sportsman,  shooting  late  in  the 
autumn,  particularly  after  the  nights  have  begun  to  be  frosty,  to 
decline  trying  a  likely  piece  of  ground,  a  second,  or  even  a 
third  or  fourth  time,  because  he  has  already  swept  it  clear  of 
Woodcock.  Tt  does  not,  of  course,  follow  of  all  ground  whatso- 
ever ;  but  of  all  that  ground  which  is  the  most  beloved  by  the 
bird,  it  is  unquestionably  true  that  it  will  be  filled,  and  refilled, 
many  times  in  succession. 

This  is  certainly  a  curious  fact,  and  one  for  which  it  is  diffi-' 
cult  to  account,  by  any  reasonable  mode  of  explanation.  The 
succession  of  so  many  birds,  is  in  itself  singular,  it  not  being  at 
all  apparent  where  is  the  reservoir  from  which  the  current  is 
supplied.  It  was  not,  in  the  case  T  have  named,  from  other 
woods  in  the  neighborhood,  of  slightly  inferior  excellence,  as 
feeding  ground,  for  these  were  not  deserted  ;  and,  if  we  suppose 
that  ths  fresh  supplies  came  in  consecutively  from  the  north- 
ward by  long  flights,  how  should  they  have  been  able  to  time 
themselves  so  exactly,  as  to  come  on  the  very  nights  when  the 
haunt  was  vacant,  and  at  their  service  1 

On  the  other  hand,  if  we  adopt  the  idea  that  the  descent  is 
only  from  the  neighboring  mountain  tops,  why  should  these  wait 
patiently  until  the  others  were  killed  off  to  their  hands,  instead 
of  pouring  down  into  the  place  in  a  body,  and  there  remaining 
until  the  supply  of  food,  which  renders  it  so  favorite  a  haunt, 
should  be  exhausted  1 

Such,  however,  is  invariably  the  case  in  such  localities,  and  I 
never  but  once  in  my  life  observed  anything  like  ajlock  of  these 
birds.     That  once,  in  a  very  wet  place,  on  the  edge  of  a  heavy 


2H 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Bwamp,  where  a  large  spring,  which  never  freezes,  bursts  o.it 
and  percolates  through  the  vegetable  soil  for  a  diHtance  of  a 
hundred  yards,  or  a  little  more,  before  gathering  itself  into  a 
single  channel,  I  saw  at  least  a  hundred  birds  rise  within  three 
minutes.     It  was  very  late  in  the  season,  the  6th  or  8th  of  No- 
vember,  and  sharp  frost  had  already  set  in,  and  it  was  so  late 
in  the  af>ernoon  that  it  was  almost  dark.     I  was  shootin<r  will, 
a  friend,  who  had  a  young  dog  which  could  not  be  controlled 
irom  running  in ;  and  all  the  birds  were  flushed  at  two  rises 
each  of  us  getting  two  double  shots.     The  Woodcock  settled 
down  all  over  the  largo  swamp,  but  it  was  too  dark  to  follow 
Ihem;  and  the  next  moi-ning,  it  having  been  an  intensely  hard 
black  frost  at  night,  not  a  bird  was  to  be  found  in  the  country 
Had  we  come  upon  that  flight  earlier  in  the  day,  and  with  old. 
steady  dogs,  the  spoil  might  have  been  incalculable 

I  have  always  believed,  however,  that  to  be  an  instance  of 
actual  migration ;  and  I  am  well  satisfied  all  those  birds  had 
dropped  in,  from  a  long  flight  from  the  north,  whence  they  had 
been  expelled  by  the  severe  cold,  with  no  intention  of  stopping 
longer  than  to  recruit  themselves  by  a  .ingle  day's  repose. 
After  that  night  no  more  birds  were  seen  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  until  the  breaking  of  the  ensuing  winter. 

One  other  point  appears  to  be  worthy  of  remark,  with  regard 
to  the  autumnal  migration  of  Cock,  on  their  way  southward 
namely  that  sometimes,  particulariy  when  the  winter  sets  in 
unusually  early  and  severe  on  the  sea-board,  and  south  of  the 
mountains,  the  flight  of  Cock  come  down  all  nearly  at  once  and 
m  one  direction,  avoiding  whole  ranges  of  country,  and  abso- 
lutely swarming  in  other  regions.     A  few  seasons  since  when 
the  northern  and  river  counties,  so  far  down  as  Rockland   were 
covered  with  snow,  which  lay  two  or  three  days,  in  the  first 
week  of  October,  no  more  Woodcock  were  found  that  autumn 
in  that  distnct,  or  in  Eastern  New  Jersey,  quite  down  to  the 
sea,  while  they  literally  abounded  on  the  easte™  side  of  the 
Hudson,  and  were  killed  in  profusion  throughout  Westchester 
and  even  within  a  few  miles  of  New  York  city. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


215 


The  cause  of  this,  I  suppose  to  be  explicable  thus, — that  there 
is,  in  fact,  always  a  two-fold  migration  of  Woodcock  in  the 
autumn,  that  of  the  birds  bred  in  these  districts,  which,  having 
absented  themselves  during  the  moult,  return  immediately,  that 
over,  to  the  vicinity  of  their  resting-places,  and  remain  through- 
out the  autumn,— and  that  of  the  birds  bred  very  far  north  of 
us,  which  tarry  at  the  north  so  long  as  the  weather  will  permit, 
and  then  visit  us  for  a  few  days,  more  or  less,  according  to  the 
state  of  the  country  and  the  temperature,  but  never  make  any 
protracted  sojourn  with  us. 

In  such  a  case  as  that  which  I  have  mentioned,  the  home-bred 
birds  are  probably  driven  southward  at  once  by  the  tempoiary 
local  snow-storm,  while  the  northern  flights,  not  having  been 
forced  to  move,  tarry  till  the  last,  and  then  hurry  off,  pitching 
only  for  a  single  day  to  rest  themselves,  and  resuming  their 
progress  every  night. 

Woodcock  and  Snipe  both,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  observe, 
are  in  a  great  measure  nocturnal  birds,  and  almost  invariably 
make  all  their  long  voyages,  and  usually  even  their  casual  trips 
from  one  feeding  ground  to  another,  between  sunset  and  sun- 
rise. I  have  occasionally  seen  Snipe  travelling  high  in  the  air, 
in  small  whisps,  during  the  day  time  in  dark  foggy  weather 
with  small  rain  falling :  but  I  have  never  known  Woodcock  to 
move  their  quarters,  unless  violently  aroused,  until  it  is  almost 
too  dark  to  distinguish  them  on  the  wing. 

The  weather,  in  which  both  these  swift  passengers  love  best 
to  roam,  is  dull,  hazy,  and  sometimes  even  rainy,  and  that  com- 
monly on  the  breaking  of  a  north-easterly  storm.  This  is  i)ar- 
ticularly  the  case  with  the  Snipe,  and  in  the  spring.  In  fact,  I 
have  never  known  them  abundant  on  the  meadows  until  after 
two  or  three  days  cold  heavy  rain,  and  to  there  having  been  no  ' 
such  storm  this  present  year,  I  attribute,  in  a  great  measure, 
the  extreme  scarcity  of  Snipe. 

It  is  a  little  singular,  however,  that,  while  these  birds  prefer 
thick  and  hazy  weather,  they  almost  always  choose  moonlight 
nights,  and  fly  most  when  the  moon  is  near  the  full.     When 


].,[] 


■I 


21C 


FUAMl      OIlESTEIl's    FIELD   SPOUTS. 


t)w  fiportsman  ia  so  fortunuto  as  to  find  liiniHclt'  favored  with 
that  most  doliciouH  to  the  8t'nm;8,  und  tiioHt  lovely  to  tlio  eye,  of 
all  weathtT,  which  we  know  as  Indian  Summer,  at  the  lull 
of  the  October  moon,  he  may  count  himself  almost  certain 
of  findinjr  the  Cf»vert8  well  stocked  with  Woodcock.  I  have 
frecjuently  acted  on  this  indication  myself,  and,  in  spite  of  being 
warned  by  letters  from  the  country  that  Cock  had  not  come  on, 
have  sot  out  fiom  the  city,  relying  on  the  combination  of  the 
purple  haze  with  the  full  October  moon,  veiled  in  soft  silver  for 
the  nonce,  and  have  rarely  been  disappointed  of  good  spoit. 

In  all  other  rc8j)ects,  the  pursuit  of  Woodcock,  the  mode  of 
hunting  them,  and  the  style  of  killing  them,  differ  in  nothing 
now  from  the  methods  to  be  used  in  summer.  The  birds  are, 
of  course,  far  stronger  on  the  wing,  as  tliey  are  now  full  grown, 
and  instead  of  dodging  about  in  the  bushes  and  dropping  with- 
in twenty  yards  of  the  muzzle  of  a  gun  just  discharged,  will 
soar  away  over  the  tree  t.ps,  and  sometimes  fly  half  a  mile  at 
a  stretch. 

Tlie  difficulty  of  killing  them,  is  therof()re  increased,  although 
the  absence  of  the  green  leaf  affords  a  fairer  view  of  them,  and 
the  man  who  makes  a  large  bag  must  depend  more  on  snap 
shots  than  on  fair  chances  over  steady  points. 

In  this  place  it  will  not  be  improper  to  insert  a  slight  notice 
and  description  of  the  mode  generally  adopted  for  the  killing  ot 
Woodcock  in  Louisiana,  Mississippi  and  the  other  Southwestern 
States,  by  what  is  termed  "  Fire-hunting." 

This  practice  is  resorted  to,  in  some  degree,  as  a  matter  of 
necessity,  owing  to  the  fact  that,  in  these  regions  which  are  the 
favorite  winter  home  of  the  bird  in  question,  he  frequents 
during  the  day  only  the  most  impracticable  cane-brakes  and 
morasses,  from  which  it  is  only  by  dint  of  the  severest  labor 
that  he  can  be  dislodged. 

Until  very  recently  no  other  mode  of  shooting  Woodcock 
was  practised  at  all  in  these  states,  as  it  was  regarded  as  im- 
possible to  pui-sue  them  with  any  success  during  the  day  time 
in  their  gloomy  and  difficult  fastnesses.     Of  late  years,  however, 


trLAND   SnOOTINO. 


m 


w  miirlit  havo  been  pxpectod,  it  has  bc.n  (l.'m„n8tiiiti,-,l  hy 
g  o.l  .ipoitHtnen,  that  Cock  can  ho  killed  over  S.^f tors— Spaniels 
would  douhticss  be  yet  proforablo— in  tluwo  wtatos  as  else- 
whons  and  tho  corrort,  logitimato  and  .portHmanliko  mothud  cf 
bunting  tliom  with  dogs  Ih,  of  conso.|uoi.ro,  coming  into  vogue, 
soon,  I  doubt  not,  oiitiroly  to  supciNcdo  tlio  "  Fiic-liunting'' 
aystom,  wbich  although  it  may  bo  good  f„n  enough,  for  once  or 
twice,  can  only  be  n^gardod  as  a  species  of  poaching,  or  pot- 
hunting ;  palliated  or  perhaps  in  some  sort  legitimatized  by 
the  necesHities  of  the  case. 

Throughout  this  region,  as  I  havo  said,  during  the  day  this 
more  than  half  nocturnal  bird  is  not  to  be  seen  at  all  without  the 
confines  of  tho  dense  and  tangled  brakes  on  the  edges  of  the 
deep  bayous  and  morasses,  never  flying  abroad  into  the  (.pen, 
and  contenting  itself  with  nibbling  the  mud,  and  picking  up  a 
little  ckanco  food  in  its  lurking  places. 

No  8(.oner  is  it  dark,  however,  than  out  the  Woodcocks  come 
by  thousands  from  their  fastnesses,  and,  pitching  down  on  all 
sides  in  the  old  fields  and  maize-stJibl)les,  apj)ly  themselves  to 
nibbling  and  boring  in  the  soft,  rich  loam  for  their  succulent 
worm-diet. 

Hereupon  the  fire-hunt  commences — with  gun  and  game-bag, 
powder-flask  and  shot-pouch,  and  all  appliances  and  means 
secuvdum  artem,  the  sportsman  sallies  forth  ;  but  no  silky-haired, 
high-strung,  sagacious  Setter,  no  satin-skinned,  rat-tailed,  obe- 
dient Pointer  follows  his  master's  heel.  In  lieu  of  Don  or 
Sancho,  an  old,  crafty,  gi-izzle-pnted,  merry  negro,  comes  forth, 
equipped  with  the  brazen  vessel  of  a  warming-pan,  or  the  like 
instrument,  set  erect  on  a  pole  of  some  ten  or  twelve  feet  in 
length,  filled  with  light  wood,  pine  knots,  or  such  like  bright, 
burning  combustibles. 

Arrived  on  tho  feeding  ground,  a  light  is  applied  ;  the  quick 
fuel  sends  out  a  broad,  ruddy  glare  ;  and,  as  the  bearer  slowly 
circumambulates  the  field,  a  circle  of  intense  lustre  is  shed  for 
ten  yards  around  him.  rendering  every  object  more  clearly 
vinible  than  at  noon-day.     The  shooter  walks  close  to  the  fire- 


218 


FRANK    FORESTERS   FIELD   SPORTS. 


I 


I 


I  HH 


bearer,  on  his  right  hand,  and  ever  and  anon  as  the  circular 
glare  passes  along  over  the  surface  of  the  ground,  his  eye 
detects  the  Woodcock,  crouching  close  to  the  earth,  and  gazing 
with  Its  full,  fascinated  eye  upon  the  strange  illumination. 
Ihe  next  instant  up  it  springs,  dizzy  and  confused  and  soarine 
upward  toward  the  light.  It  is  seen  for  a  second,  and  then  is 
lost  in  the  surrounding  darkness;  but  of  that  one  quick  second 
the  sportsman  takes  advantage;  and  by  a  snap  shot  cuts  him 
down,  with  a  light  charge;  never  killing  a  bird  at  above  ten 
paces  distant,  and  often  bagging  his  hundred  in  a  single  even- 
ing's work. 

This  mode  of  Cock-shooting,  arises,  as  it  is  evident,  ex  neces- 
sitate  rei,  and  may  for  a  while  be  sufficiently  exciting.     It  must 
however,  lack  all  that  variety,  which  is  the  great  charm  of  our 
northern  shooting;  variety,  which  arises  from  the  working  of 
the   emulous,    obedient,    and   well-trained   dogs,  in   obsei-ving 
whose  exquisite  instinct,  fine  attitudes  and  beautiful  docility 
me  jud,ce,  lies  half  the  pleasure  of  field  sports ;   and  which 
together  wi:h  the  lovely  scenery,  the  brisk,  breezy  air,  and  the 
exultmg  sense  of  personal  independence,  and  personal  power 
spnngmg  from  these  and  from  the  glow  of  cheerful  exercise.' 
renders  them  to  active,  energetic  and  enthusiastic  minds  the 
lirst  of  pleasures,  and  almost  a  necessary  relief  from  the  dull 
monotony  of  every-day  existence. 

This  brings  us  to  Quail  shooting,  and  to  what  is  the  climax 
of  all  our  field  sports,  that  mixed,  wild,  autumn  shooting,  in  one 
day  of  which,  the  laborious  woodman  may  kill  on  one  range 
Quail,  Woodcock,  Ruffed  Grouse,  Hare,  Snipe,  and  some  two' 
or  three  varieties  of  Wild  Duck. 

I  have  had  many  a  good  day's  sport  in  many  countries,  but 
above  everything  that  I  have  ever  seen,  or  expect  to  see  again 
pve  me  a  day  of  rough  and  tumble  autumn  shooting,  such  as 
It  was  ten  years  ago  in  Orange  county,  and  such  as  it  may  per- 
haps  be  again,  for  a  short  time,  when  the  Erie  railroad  shall 
hi-st  give  us  access  to  the  southern  tier  of  counties.  Me 
there  is  nothing  like  it  in  the  wild  worid. 


!  Jh-dice, 


WLAND    SHf>OTINC. 


«]9 


QUAIL    SHOOTING. 


'  HAVE  already,  under  my  list 
of  Upland  Game,  given  a  full 
description  of  this  lovely  little 
bird  from  the  pages  of  Audubon 
and  Wilson. 

Both  of  these  authora  lean  to 
the   southern  fashion  of  calling 
»,.,.i,    r  1  "      this  bird  a  Partridge.     Now  the 

tmh  of  the  matter  is  simply  this,  that  the  bird  in  aueZnis 
Vro^^ly  and  «.«./,  „either  one  nor  the  other,  but  a  d  "t  „ 

the  Amencan  bird,  distmct  from  either,   Ortyx.      The  latter 
name  bemg  the  Greek  word,  as  Coturnix  is  the  Latfn  woTd 
-anmg  Quail.     It  is,  of  course,  impossible  to  talk  about  km-' 

u  rfo     "'"?;  r  "r"  '^"'^^^^^   ^^<'^^-   --  --t  therefore 
perforce  call  these  birds  either  Quail  or  P  mridge.  ' 

Now  as  both  the  European  Partridges  are  considerablv  more 
than  double  the  size  of  the  American  bird,  as  they  are  n;vr  ' 
any  country  rm^rator,,  and  as  they  differ  from  the  OrtyxTnot 
L  sL'  ^,^^^^.'"7-«-'^  habits,  in  cry  and  in  plumage ;  11 
m  size,  and  m  being  a  bird  of  passage,  the  European  Ou^I 
exactly  resembles  that  of  America ;  resembling  it    n^l  othj 
respects  far  more  closely  than  the  Partridge  pLer     I L 
for  a  moment  hesitate  in  saying  that  A  JZ^Q  '    '^^ 
correct  and  proper  English  name  for  the  Ort,.  FV^W  and 
con     V    ,hat  the  naturalists  who  first  disti^uishfd  rfrl 
the  Quail  with  which  he  was  originally  classed,  sanction  t^ 


IP" 


290 


FRANK   rOTlESTER's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


if  fl 


English  nomenclature  by  giving  him  a  scientific  title  directly 
analogous  to  Quail,  and  not  to  Paitiidge. 

I  should  as  soon  think  myself  of  calling  the  bird  a  Turkey  as 
a  Partridge,  and  I  shall  ever  hold  that  the  question  is  entirely 
set  at  rest,  and  that  the  tnie  name  of  this  dear  little  bird  in  the 
vernacular  is  American  Quail  ;  and  his  country  has  better  rea- 
son to  be  proud  of  him,  than  she  has  of  many  of  her  sons  who 
make  much  more  noise  in  the  world  than  our  favorite  Bob- 
White. 

While  on  this  subject,  I  may  observe — for  the  benefit  of  our 
northern  sportsmen,  many  of  whom  I  have  heard  positively 
asseit  that  the  Quail  is  not  migratoiy — that  every  where  west 
of  the  Delaware  he  is  as  distinctly  a  bird  of  migration  as  the 
Woodcock,  and  the  farther  west  the  more  palpably  so.  Why 
he  loses  these  habits  with  us  of  the  Middle  States  I  cannot 
guess,  nor  has  any  naturalist  so  much  as  alluded  to  the  fact, 
which  is  nevertheless  indisputable. 

It  will  be  seen  at  once,  from  the  foregoing  description,  that 
oar  American  Quail  is  a  most  beautiful  little  bird;  but  his 
beauties  do  not  consist  merely  in  his  plumage,  but  in  his  gait, 
his  pretty  pert  movements,  his  great  vivacity,  his  joyous  atti- 
tudes, his  constant  and  cheerful  activity. 

He  is  in  all  respects  the  most  social,  the  meiriest,  and  most 
amiable  of  his  tribe.  During  the  breeding  season,  he  alone,  of 
the  gallinaceous  tribe,  makes  wood  and  mead  resound  with 
his  shrill,  men-y  whistle,  whence  our  country  folk  have  framed 
to  him  a  name  Boh  -  White,  fi-om  some  fancied  similarity  of 
sound,  cheering  his  faithful  partner  during  the  toils  of  incu- 
bation. 

Afterward,  when  the  bevies  are  collected,  as  he  mns  from 
the  huddle  in  which  he  has  passed  the  night,  he  salutes  hia 
brethren,  perhaps  thanks  his  Creator,  for  the  pleasant  dawn, 
with  the  most  cheerfiil  noise  that  can  be  fancied,  a  short,  quick, 
happy  cheeping,  "and  seems  to  be,"  to  borrow  the  words  of 
the  mimitable  Audubon,  I  quote  from  memory  alone,  "tlio 
happiest  little  creature  in  the  universe." 


fPLiND  SHOOTIMO.  ^gj 

,„.?,"  *?"f ,!'  "°'  ""'^  *"  ""»'  »™We  of  hi,  rtbe  in  refer- 

wift  ltr'"'T  "'T'  ""^  ""^  ««"»"''  «  '"  deeply  cove,,d 

2?!  ^i      '         "*'''  ""■""'J'  of*"  '™°"»  grasses,  which 
y!f  r  "■=  "">"•  -■  *=  pain,  which  lie  scattered  in  ,he  stub- 

nmg  abou  among  .he  domestic  fowl,  in  the  bam-yard  a"  d 
flymg  up,  ,f  suddenly  disturbed,  to  perch  under  the  raSrs"  f 
some  bam  or  out-house,  seemingly  fearless,  and  confide„r  i„ 
such  season,,  of  protection.  'u  connaent,  m 

During  the  whole  of  last  winter,  I  had  a  bevy  of  thiteen 
b.rd,  lymg  wtthin  three  or  four  hundred  yards  of  tl«    „1   „ 

fllirand^h  *r  "      '"'"''"""""  ""'"  "■"  "--y  ™»™  had 
lallen ,  and  they  became  so  tame,  that  they  would  allow  me  to 

approach  wtthin  twenty  pace,  of  the  spot  where  they  wirrfed 
runnmg  about  and  picking  up  the  triangular  seadl,p!fel,; 
unconcerned  at  my  presence,  .is  soon,  however,  as  the  st' I 
commenced,  and  the  bevy  senarated  ,1,„™.  i       •  ^   ^ 

wild  habits  returned  uponTn    and  H"' '"'° '"'•'"'■ '■■"'' 
my  little  friends.  '^  '  ^""^  '  '"'™  """•  '•"  '^'"'  "' 

The  Quail  pair,  in  the  month  of  March,  or  even  earlier  if 

"f™::;itrro:y"irc:trfn:.T"  r--  ^^ 

the  sp^g^  is  very  late^and  backw^-hi;  IZ^l;^ 

As  soon  a,  he  has  chosen  to  himself  a  mate,  the  happy  nai, 
^treat  ,„  w,de,  open,  rushy  meadows,  where  the  couSado" 
of  the  country  affords.them  such  retirement,  among  the  tZk" 
of  winch  they  love  to  ba,k  in  the  spring  sunshine,  m"  .„  t 
and  hes  htgher,  and  is  broken  into  knoll,  and  gulleys  you  *,! 
fiad  them  at  this  .eason  on  the  grassy  banks  bSde'tm    .hj" 


Ill  f  i 


In 


liItU 


;  iiiilih 


222 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


tered  hedge-row,  or  along  the  green  and  shrubby  margin  of 
some  sequestered  streamlet ;  but  never  in  thick  woodlands,  and 
rarely  in  open  fields. 

Most  birds,  so  soon  as  they  have  paired,  proceed  at  once  to 
the  duties  of  nidification  and  the  rearing  of  their  young;  it 
seems  to  me,  however,  that  the  Quail  spend  some  time  in  pairs 
before  proceeding  to  this  task;  for  I  have  frequently  seen 
them  in  pairs  so  early  as  the  twentieth  of  March,  yet  I  have 
never  found  the  Hen  sitting,  or  a  nest  with  eggs  in  it,  during 
spring  Snipe  shooting,  though  I  have  often  flushed  the  paired 
birds  on  the  same  ground  with  the  long-billed  emigrants. 

I  have  never,  indeed,  seen  a  Quail's  nest  earlier  than  the 
middle  of  May,  and  have  often  found  them  sitting  as  late  as  the 
end  of  July. 

Their  nest  is  inartificial,  made  of  grasses,  and  situate  for  the 
most  part  under  the  shelter  of  a  stump  or  tussock  in  some  wild 
meadows,  or  near  the  bushy  margin  of  some  clover  field  or 
orchard.  The  Hen  lays  from  ten  to  two-and-twenty  eggs,  and 
is  relieved  at  times,  in  hatching  them,  by  the  male  bird ;  who 
constantly  keeps  guard  around  her,  now  sitting  on  the  bough  of 
the  nearest  tree,  now  perched  on  the  top  rail  of  a  snake  feni;e, 
making  the  woods  and  hills  resound  with  his  loud  and  cheery 
whistle. 

The  period  of  the  Quails'  incubation,  I  do  not  know  correctly  ; 
the  young  birds  run  the  moment  they  burst  from  the  egg ;  and 
it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  tripping  about  with  pieces  of 
the  shell  adhering  to  their  backs. 

The  first  brood  hatched,  and  fairly  on  foot,  the  hen  proceeds, 
at  once  to  the  preparation  of  a  second  nest ;  and  committing 
the  care  of  the  early  younglings  to  her  mate,  or  rather  dividing 
with  him  the  duties  of  rearing  the  first,  and  hatching  the  second 
bevy,  she  devotes  herself  incessantly  to  her  maternal  duties. 

So  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  the  Quail  almost  invariably  raises  a 
second,  and  sometimes,  I  believe,  even  a  third  brood  in  a  single 
season.  Hence,  if  unmolested,  they  increase  with  extraordinary 
rapidity,  when  the  seasons  are  propitious.      It  is,  however 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


2-^3 


equally  certain  that,  under  other  circumstances,  they  suffer  more 
severely  in  this  region  of  country,  than  any  other  bird  of  game  • 
and  that  m  unfavorable  seasons  they  run  great  danger  of  being 
altogether  annihilated.  The  fear  of  this  result  has  led  to  what 
I  consider  hasty  and  inconsiderate  legislation  on  the  subject 

Long  severe  snows,  when  the  country  is  buried  many  feet 
deep,  and  he  can  procure  no  sustenance,  save  from  the  preca- 
rious charity  of  man,  famishes  him  outright-heavy  drifts,  espe- 
cially when  succeeded  by  a  partial  thaw,  and  a  frost  following 

hoJer'  '''^'"  ^^'  '"  ''^''^^  ^^^'^'  ^""^'^^  '"^  '^y  P"'°"- 
It  is  the  peculiar  habit  of  this  bird  to  lie  still,  squatted  in  con- 
centric huddles,  as  they  are  technically  called,  composed  of  the 
whole  bevy,  seated  like  the  radii  of  a  circle,  with  their  tails  in- 
ward,  so  long  as  snow,  sleet,  or  rain  continues  to  fall.     So  soon 
as  It  clears  off,  and  the  sun  shines  out,  with  a  simultaneous 
effort,  probably  at  a  preconcerted  signal,  they  all  spring  up  at 
once  with  an  impetus  and  rush,  so  powerful,  as  carries  them 
c^ar  through  a  snow-drift  many  feet  in  depth;  unless  it  be 
skinned  over  by  a  frozen  crust,  which  is  not  to  be  penetrated  by 
heir  utmost  efforts.     In  this  latter  case,  where  the  storm  has 
been  general  over  a  large  extent  of  countiy,  the  Quail  are  not 
unfrequently  so  near  to  extinction,  that  but  a  bevy  or  two  will 
be  seen  for  years,  on  ground  where  previously  they  have  been 
found  m  abundance;  and  at  such  times,  if  they  be  not  spared 
and  chenshed,  as  they  will  be  by  all  true  sportsmen,  they  may 
be  destroyed  entirely  throughout  a  whole  region. 

This  was  the  case  especially,  through  all  this  section  of  the 
country,  in  the  tremendous  winter  of  1835-'36.  when  these  birds 
which  had  been  previously  very  abundant,  were  almost  annihi-'    ' 
lated ;  and  would  have  been  so,  doubtless,  but  for  the  anxiety 
which  was  felt  generally,  and  the  energetic  means  which  were 
taken  to  preaei-ve  them. 

Another  peril,  which  at  times  decimates  the  breed  for  a  sea- 
son, 18  a  sudden  and  violent  land-flood  in  June  and  July  which 
drowns  the  young  broods  j  or  a  continuance  of  cold,  showery, 


'11 


iflifl 


ii\ 


224 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS, 


weather,  in  those  and  the  preceding  months,  which  addles  the 
eggs,  and  destroys  the  early  bevy.  This  is,  however,  but  a  par- 
tial evil, — as  the  Quail  rears  a  second  brood,  and,  as  I  have  be- 
fore observed,  sometimes  a  third ;  so  that  in  this  case  the  num- 
ber of  birds  for  the  season  is  diminished,  without  the  tribe  being 
endangered. 

The  open  winters,  which  ha.  -  iled  latterly,  have  been 

exceedingly  favorable  to  the  incr.  .  .  of  this  beautiful  and  pro 
lific  little  bird.  Never,  perhaps,  have  they  been  more  abundant 
than  they  were  last  autumn ;  and  as  the  winter  has  been  in  all 
respects  the  most  propitious  ever  known,  there  having  been 
scarcely  a  single  fall  of  snow  of  any  magnitude,  and  no  crust  in 
any  instance  to  molest  them,  there  is  every  likelihood  of  a  fine 
stock  next  autumn  being  raised  throughout  the  Middle  States. 

A  little  judicious  legislation — a  little  energy  combined  with 
careful  consideration  of  the  subject,  and  mutual  concession  on 
the  part  of  true  sportsmen,  might  possibly  now  preserve  this 
very  interesting  native  American  from  the  total  extinction  that 
threatens  him. 

It  is  quite  clear,  that  neither  idle  good  wishes,  nor  faineant 
despair,  will  do  so.  One  bad  winter,  and  the  present  state  of 
things,  will  settle  the  question  for  us, — ^but  the  wrong  way  ! 

Unlike  the  young  broods  of  the  Woodcock,  v/hich  are  mute, 
save  the  twitter  with  which  they  rise,  the  bevies  of  Quail  appear 
to  be  attached  to  each  other  by  tender  affection.  If  dispersed 
by  accidental  causes,  either  in  pursuit  of  their  food,  or  from 
being  flushed  by  some  casual  intruder,  so  soon  as  their  first 
alarm  has  passed  over,  they  begin  calling  to  each  other  with  a 
small  plaintive  note,  quite  different  from  the  amorous  whistle 
of  the  male  bird,  and  from  their  merry  daybreak  cheeping ;  and, 
each  one  running  toward  the  sound,  and  repeating  it  at  inter- 
vals, they  soon  collect  themselves  together  into  one  happy  little 
family,  the  circle  of  which  remains  unbroken,  until  the  next 
spring,  with  the  genial  weather,  brings  matrimonial  ardors,  pair- 
ing and  courtship,  and  the  hope  of  future  bevies. 

If,  however,  the  mthless  sportsman  has  been  among  them. 


i  addles  tlie 
',  but  a  par- 
5 1  have  ba- 
se the  num- 
tribe  being 

have  been 
ill  and  pro 
re  abundant 
been  in  all 
aving  been 

no  crust  in 
)d  of  a  fine 
[lie  States, 
ibined  with 
ncession  on 
reserve  this 
inction  that 

or  faineant 
snt  state  of 
?way  ! 
h  are  mute, 
uail  appear 
f  dispersed 
d,  or  from 
1  their  first 
ther  with  a 
3U8  whistle 
iping;  and, 
it  at  inter- 
lappy  little 
il  the  next 
rdors,  pair- 

long  them, 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


2S5 


fo   .fe^rr    ""'""''"""'"•  "-ey  -ill  p.„,.ac.  their  IMe  c»ll 
I  k,l       •"/r™''!''  '™"  "•  "igh.-fall,  and  i„  .u.h  ca.e»- 

whWe  "  "°"™     '^""^  "'  "'''"•''•'"y  i"*eir  wailing 

thinr  *7';™''  "^  '«P<«=i'-'"j'-  1  had  found  a  small  bevy  of 
thnteon  b.rd,  ,„  an  „,cha„I,  cl„.e  ,„  tl,e  l,„u,e  in  which  I  was 
passing  a  portion  of  the  a„,u„„,  .„a  in  a  very  few  J,Z2 

and  ,    was  perfectly  open  shooting.     The  thirteenth  and  las 
b.rd,  tistng  with  two  others,  which  I  killed  right  and  left  flew 

co"r„l  „?:  '7r  "  r  -■"•"■^^  ""™«  --  suntachs  i'n  ti: 
corner  of  a  tail  fence.    I  conid  have  shot  him  certainly  enough, 

bu   some  u„de6ned  feeling  induced  me  to  call  my  do™  to  hed 

and  spare  h,s  little  life ;  yet  aftetwa  I  almost  regreLd  ^ul 

1  ce„a,nly  mtended  at  the  time  to  be  mercy ;  for  day  afteriv 

mora  t,l  dewy  eve,  ciymg  for  his  departed  friends,  and  full 

:^^rL::,r°'"' "'■"'"-'-' ^>« -"«- -!^" 

mat  t  T  P"---\™P'a'«e"y  nature  in  the  heart  of 
man,  that  however  much,  when  no,  influenced  by  the  direct 
heat  of  sport  we  deprecate  the  killing  of  these  little  birds,  and 
P.ty.he  md,v.dual  sun-e,,„,_,h„  moment  the  do.  point,  3 

e  bevy  pri„g„  „,  ,^  ^,.„^,.„^,  rr:™^;::;: , 
,^^e:ct^.rh:nt:!;::r 

Qf^alUirds,  in  this  or  any  ofter  country,  so  far  as  I  know 


ifii 


hi 


H 
H 


886 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


from  personal  experience,  or  have  heard  from  others  more  com- 
petent to  pronounce  on  the  subject,  the  Quail  is  the  most  diffi- 
cult both  to  find  and  to  kill  with  certainty. 

Bred  in  the  open  fields,  and  feeding  early  in  the  morning, 
and  late  in  the  afternoon,  on  buckwheat  and  other  grain  stub- 
bles, during  all  the  rest  of  the  day,  the  bevies  lie  huddled  up  to- 
gether in  little  knots,  either  in  some  small  thorny  brake,  or 
under  the  covert  of  the  grassy  tussocks  in  some  bog  meadow. 

The  small  compass  that  each  bevy  occupies,  while  thus  indo- 
lently digesting  their  morning  meal,  renders  it  very  easy  for  the 
best  dogs  to  pass  within  six  yards  of  them,  without  discovering 
their  whereabout ;  and,  consequently,  even  where  the  country 
is  well  stocked  with  bevies,  it  is  not  an  uncommon  thing  to  toil 
a  whole  day  through,  without  raising  one-half  the  birds  which 
have  fed  in  the  morning  on  your  range. 

Again,  when  flushed  in  the  open,  these  birds  immediately  fly 
to  the  thickest  and  most  impenetrable  covert  they  can  find  ;  nnd 
in  some  sections  of  the  country  in  which  I  have  shot,  Maryland 
especially,  that  covert  is  of  such  a  nature,  so  interwoven  with 
parasitic  creepers,  cat  biiars,  and  wild  vines,  and  so  thickly  set 
with  knotted  and  thorny  brushwood,  that  they  can  run  with  im- 
punity before  the  noses  of  your  Pointers  <  Setters,  and  that, 
without  the  aid  of  cocking  Spaniels,  which  arc  '  -  used  in  the 
United  States,  they  cannot  be  forced  to  take  wing . 

These  birds  have  another  singular  quality,  whit  '•pnders 
them  exceedingly  difficult  to  find,  even  when  they  have  l  i  ac- 
curately marked  down  after  being  once  flushed.  It  is,  th,  "or 
some  considerable  time  after  they  have  alighted,  they  give  foi 
no  scent  whatsoever,  and  that  the  very  best  dogs  will  fail  to  give 
any  sign  of  their  presence. 

Whether  this  retention  of  scent  is  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the 
bird,  it  is  very  difficult  to  ascertain.  It  is  a  very  strange  power, 
if  it  be  voluntary,  yet  not  more  strange  than  many  others  of  the 
instincts  possessed  by  wild  animals. 

There  is  one  thing  which  would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
is  voluntary,  or  at  least  that  the  bird  is  conscious  of  the  fact. 


trPLAND   SHOOTING. 


237 


.W»  singular  power  ol'JppT,!'  1  °  '"  *"  ''•'"''"="™  <"• 
taWnj  marked ,,.,„„  a  b^'; .o  a VaJinft''  T,""'"""'  ""^^ 
having  failed  ,„  seart  .hem  I  havetft  fl^I"";  *™",''' ""'' 
'l.a.  they  had  taken  ,„  a,e  ,  eer„?  rif  ?    ""•  ™"'^'"<'i"« 

when  I  am  satisfied,  hadT^TZd  h   ™\'«"'"  ""»»«"  ^y  me, 
in«  .0  beat  f„..  then.:  I  mi^hT,;:!  td  ^Xot,  "7  "Th"'" 

:r:re\:  :^.:t.s^,^".-.  "^-^  ^^'^■'  ---X 

Btill  «„  far  a  '  mve '  ""''  ""''  '"■"■""  '"""'»  »'  »""«'-. 

of  a  Agle  b!  ylan "f  :""'^^"»"-  "^  -">«  Panicular  habit 
,.e  nevy,  tlian  of  any  natural  instinct  of  the  bird 

Once  aga,„_and  I  have  done  with  the  difficulties  of  fi^d' 
particular  bevies,  endowed  with  fl,»,    .  <"»"=»"™  of  finding— 
proaches  so  very  nearlv^o  rT  T  ™*    "  ""'*'  """>>  "P' 

guished  therefL, ;  f «;:::"'«;'  d  '""^  "^"  •"  '■""■ 

days  and  weeksin  sll    •  '"''•  '"^riaWy  for  many 

nook,  or  cTump  o?brr      ";  '°  '"""  """""''"  "-'-of-tbe-way 

an'lToZdtreriri^l^^^^^^^^^ 

When  within  two  hundred  v.r^f  "°"»« J^te  m  the  evening,  and 

he  thought  he  cou?d  stlrt  H     "l^'^^^^P^^^Ie  tavei^.  he  said 

had  obsLed  ra:i:rfte?;or  r'^  ^^^^^" ''-'  -'-^  '^ 

Accordingly  we  went  to  the  place  and  hn^  r,«. 
™.o  the  b„g,befo.  the  SettL  oV  wh  cl  :' fad' t'hTl; 

:™Xti^iu;tTb:£;:-V^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

buckwheat  stubble,  su„o„nded  by  .    ^    ll7b    f  ""  1 
'.nary  hedges,  which  lay  just  beyond  the  g^Te  "  ""' 

We  hunted  till  it  was  ,ui.e  dark,  however,  without  moving        • 


m 


M8 


FRANK   FORESTEH's    FIELD   SPORTS 


the  birds.  On  going  out  the  next  moniing,  we  drew  tlio  boga 
blank,  and  it  hocamo  evident  tliat  tliey  had  roosted  in  tlie  place, 
wherever  it  was,  to  which  they  had  flown,  on  being  disturbed. 
We  set  off,  therefore,  again  in  that  direction,  hoping  to  find 
them  on  their  feeding  ground,  but  spent  the  greater  part  of  the 
morning  trying  for  them  in  vain. 

We  then  took  our  dogs  in  a  different  direction ;  and  after  a 
day's  sport — whether  good,  bad,  or  indifferent,  I  do  not  now 
remember — again  found  our  bevy  in  the  same  bogs, — killed  a 
brace  of  them  only,  in  consequence  of  their  rising  wild,  and  the 
evening  having  grovm  dark,  and  again  marked  them  over  the 
same  wood  corner — the  birds  literally  flying  over  the  top  of 
the  very  same  crimson  maple  which  they  had  crossed  the  pre- 
,  vious  evening. 

It  was  too  late  to  look  farther  after  them  that  night,  and  I 
knew  that  they  would  not  be  in  the  bogs  on  the  following  mom- 
ing, — we  took,  therefore,  a  different  beat,  and  heard  no  more  of 
my  bevy. 

On  the  third  day,  however,  being  piqued  by  the  escape  of 
these  birds,  I  determined  to  spare  no  pains  to  find  their  hiding- 
places.  We  proceeded  accordingly  to  the  bogs,  the  first  thing 
in  the  morning,  found  them  before  they  had  quitted  their  roost, 
and  drove  them  for  the  third  time  over  the  top  of  the  same  red 
maple. 

These  birds,  be  it  observed,  were  on  my  old  companion's 
own  fann,  every  inch  of  which  we  knew  thoroughly,  and  on 
which  there  was  not  a  brake,  or  tuft  of  rushes,  likely  to  harbor 
a  single  bird,  much  less  a  bevy,  with  which  we  were  not  ac- 
qnainted. 

We  spent  four  hours  beating  for  these  birds  again  in  vain, 
and  left  the  ground  in  disgust  and  despair. 

In  returning  home,  however,  that  night,  we  recrossed  the 
same  fields ;  and  expecting  nothing  less  than  to  find  game,  1 
was  walking  down  the  side  of  a  snake-fence,  along  which  grew 
a  few  old  apple-trees,  with  my  dogs  pretty  well  fagged  at  my 
heel,  and  my  gun  across  my  shoulder.      Suddenly  out  of  the 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


229 


n  m  vain, 


mouth  of  an  old  collar,  over  which  a  cottage  had  atood  in  past 
days,  up  whirled  a  bovy  of  Quail,  and  away  over  the  very  same 
tree-toj,,  but  now  in  the  opposite  direction. 

Or.  examining  the  cellar,  the  inside  of  which  was  filled  with 
bnars  and  weeds,  we  found  conclusive  proof  in  the  numerous 
droppings  of  the  birds,  that  they  had  been  in  the  constant  habit 
of  sitting  therein,  attracted  thither  probably,  in  the  first  instance, 
by  the  apples  which  had  fallen  into  the  hollow  from  the  trees 
overhead. 

It  was  as  yet  but  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  we  were  so  near 
home  that  we  got  fresh  dogs,  and  went  to  work  at  them  again 
in  the  bogs,  wheie  we  originally  found  them.  Some  time  had 
elapsed,  and  they  had  run  together  into  a  single  knot,  rose 
again  very  wild,  and  flew  directly  back  to  the  old  hiding-place. 
Thither  we  followed  them  at  once,  flushed  them  therein, 
proving  most  unequivocally  that  they  had  always  lain  perdu  in 
the  same  small  spot,  and  drove  them  out  into  the  open 

It  was  too  dark  by  this  time  to  pursue  them  any  longer ;  and 
afterward,  though  .e  found  them  constantly  in  different  parts 
ot  the  bog  meadow,  neither  as  a  body,  nor  as  single  birds,  did 
they  ever  betake  themselves  again  to  the  cellar  for  refuge 

Had  I  not  accidentally  blundered  on  that  place,  when  think- 
mg  of  anything  rather  than  of  the  birds,  I  might  have  hunted 
tor  a  month  over  the  ground  vyithout  finding  them.  From  the 
cavity,  and  the  narrowness  of  the  mouth,  a  dog  might  have  .^one 
withm  a  yard  of  it  without  scenting  them  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  mine  had  been  more  than  once  within  that  distance  of 
them. 

And  here  I  have  done  with  the  difficulty  of  finding,  which  by 
the  way  is  not  the  least  step  toward  killing  our  bird. 

It  is,  however,  little  less  difficult  to  kill  when  found,  than  to 
hnd  m  the  first  instance.  When  first  flushed  the  bevy  rise  with 
such  a  whirring  and  tumultuous  noise  that  they  are  very  apt  to 
flutter  the  nei-ves  of  a  young  sportsman  ;  and  if  they  rise  very 
close  to  the  shooter,  I  have  often  seen  even  tolerably  good  shots 
d^sclmrge  both  their  barrels  fruitlessly,  from  doing  so  much  too 


*»>"  FRANK    FORESTER'S   FIELD    Sl'OKTS. 

Tliis  is  not,  however,  by  any  moans  the  difTiculty  to  wlilch  I 
alludt^  iiH  an  <ild  and  Hti-ady  Mliot  in  of  course  prcHuincd  to  he 
proof  against  such  tremorH ;  ajid  in  the  open  field,  under  ordi- 
nary circumHtances,  ought,  generally,  to  kill  his  double  shot 
out  of  every  bevy  that  is  pointed  and  flushed  within  fifteen  or 
twenty  paces. 

The  case  becomes,  however,  altogether  different  after  the 
birds  have  become  scattered  in  coppice,  or  yet  worse,  in  high 
Bajilings,  the  very  thickest  part  of  which  they  most  affect,  after 
being  once  disturbed. 

There  is  no  bird,  which  I  have  ever  seen  that  can  in  the 
shghtest  degree  compare  with  the  Quail  for  the  rapidity  with 
which  it  takes  wing,  and  the  short  space  which  it  requires  to  get 
under  full  headway.  It  really  is  wonderful  to  observe  the  ex- 
traordinary speed  and  command  of  wing  with  which  this  bird 
will  dart  through  the  most  intricate  and  tangled  brake,  yet  I 
have  never  seen  a  single  instance  of  their  flying  foul  of  a  tree 
or  getting  entangled  in  a  thicket,  as  will  sometimes  happen  to 
the  Ruffed  Grouse,  and  much  more  frequently  to  the  European 
Pheasant. 

The  Quail  flies,  as  I  have  said,  with  extreme  rapidity  in  a  di- 
rect line,  rather  ascending  for  the  most  part,  but  rarely  or 
never  dodging  and  pitching  to  and  fro  Hke  a  Snipe  or  Wood- 
cock. It  has  a  habit  likewise  if  not  pointed,  of  lying  hard  until 
you  have  passed  it,  and  then  flirting  up  behind  your  back ;  hi 
which  case  your  first  intimation  of  its  whereabout  is  the  sharp 
whirr  of  its  wing,  and  you  must  bestir  yourself  hastily  indeed, 
yet  coolly  withal,  and  you  must  have  the  eye  of  instinct,  and 
the  nerve  of  steel,  to  cut  him  down  handsomely  under  such  cir- 
cumstances. 

It  maj  be  added  to  this  catalogue  of  difficulties,  that  in  flying 
from  you,  as  the  Quail  does  in  a  great  majority  of  cases,  he 
presents  to  the  aim  of  the  sportsman  a  vital  centre  little  larger 
than  a  cent  piece,  with  two  radii  formed  by  the  slender  pinions, 
in  which  small  target  four  or  five  shot  must  be  lodged  to  bring 
him   down   with   any  certainty;   so  that   it  will   not   appear 


UPLAND   SnoOTINO. 


831 


o  which  I 
mod  t(i  be 
lulor  oitli- 
)ul)lc  Hhot 
fil'tocn  or 

aftor  the 
e,  in  high 
[Tect,  after 

an  in  the 
idity  with 
rea  to  get 
'e  the  ex- 

this  bird 
ike,  yet  I 

of  a  tree 
lappen  to 
European 

y  in  a  di- 
rarely  or 
)r  Wood- 
lard  until 
back ;  in 
the  sharp 
yr  indeed, 
inct,  and 
such  cir- 

in  flying 
cases,  he 
le  larger 
■  pinions, 

to  bring 
t  appear 


roinarkablo  if,  with  a  gun  tliat  scatters  its  cliarge,  evt*n  a 
g()»»d  shot  miss  this  bird  even  at  a  short  range  ;  and  that  at 
thirty  or  forfy  paciw  the  very  bosl  guns,  aimed  with  perfect 
precision,  fail  fro(iueiitly  of  killing  clean. 

The  Quail  is  a  very  l)rave  bird,  moreover.  He  will  carry 
off  a  great  quantity  of  shot,  if  not  lodged  in  a  vital  part,  and 
will  frequently,  even  when  mortally  wounded,  particularly  if 
shot  through  the  brain  or  heart,  and  going  before  the  wind,  fly 
till  life  leaves  him  in  mid  air,  and  even  after  that  will  be  pro- 
pelled  by  the  rapidity  of  his  previous  motion  and  the  l)uoyancy 
of  his  still  extended  wings,  for  many  yards  farther  in  a  descend- 
ing  line. 

A  singular  instance  of  this  occurred  to  myself  while  shooting 
in  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson,  nearly  opposite  to  West 
Point,  with  two  friends,  in  November,  1839.  We  were  boating 
a  bare  field  on  one  of  the  lower  hills  of  that  chain,  in  which 
were  several  shallow  ravines  lying  nearly  parallel  to  each  other, 
pointing  transversely  downward. 

I  was  in  the  lowest  of  three  gulleys  with  a  brace  of  dogs,  and 
perhaps  a  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  my  companions,  each 
of  whom,  with  one  dog,  was  making  good  another  parallel 
gorge. 

The  wind  was  blowing  keenly  and  coldly  on  our  backs,  and 
before  us  lay  a  long  range  of  open  fields  sloping  steeply  toward 
the  river,  with  a  piece  of  young  woodland,  bounded  by  a  stone 
wall  on  the  hither  side,  beyond  them. 

Finding  no  game  myself,  I  was  suddenly  put  on  the  alert  by 
the  quick  shout,  "  mark  !  mark !"  from  behind,  somewhat  to  my 
left ;  and  in  the  next  moment  a  large  bevy  of  birds,  which  had 
been  raised  by  my  friends  and  circled  round  my  back,  passed 
me  within  twenty  paces  to  the  right. 

It  struck  me  at  the  time,  that  I  never  had  seen  birds  fly  so 
fast ;  they  had  already  traversed  sufficient  space  to  have  gained 
the  full  momentum  of  their  own  velocity,  and  had  in  their  favor 
all  the  impetus  that  the  swift  wind,  directly  before  which  they 
were  flying,  could  give  them.     I  was  shooting  with  a  gun  that 


mf 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 

carries  its  shot  veiy  closely,  and  that  loaded  with  Ely's  \rdtrr.t 
cartridge,  which  are  propelled  full  one-third  farther  and  more 
strongly  than  loose  shot — and  to  conclude,  I  was  perfectly  cool. 
and  making  allowance  for  the  distance  and  velocity  of  the  birds, 
fired  both  barrels.  To  my  infinite  disgust  neither  bird  fell,  and 
I  need  not  add,  to  the  infinite  mirth  of  my  companions,  who 
accused  me  of  missing  two  peifectly  fair  shots  in  the  open. 

I  replied,  thereby  greatl/  increasing  their  meniment,  that  I 

had  not  missed  either  bird,  and  that  I  had  hit  both  in  front  of 

the  wing,  that  is  to  say  in  the  most  vital  part  of  the  body ;  at 

which  they  laughed  ineffably ;  but  in  the  end  it  turned  out  as 

,  usual  that  the  last  laugher  has  the  best  of  it. 

For,  to  proceed,  we  marked  the  bulk  of  the  bevy  into  the 
woodland  I  have  mentioned,  at  least  a  quarter  of  a  mile  down 
wind,  and  followed  them  thither. 

But  on  aniving  at  the  stone  wall  which  bounded  it  on  the 
nearer  side,  both  my  dogs  stood  almost  simultaneously,  and 
immediately  roLneved  the  two  birds  I  had  shot  at,  perfectly 
dead,  but  both  warm,  and  both  bleeding  from  the  bill. 

The  shots  I  fired  were  the  fii-st  shots  fired  that  morning,  con- 
sequently they  mus.  have  been  my  birds,  and  they  had  flown 
after  being  mortally  struck,  above  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and 
would  probably  have  flown  considerably  farther,  skimming 
close  to  the  ground,  had  not  the  stone  wall,  against  which,  I 
have  no  doubt,  they  struck,  brought  them  up  at  last.  From 
curiosity  I  kept  the  two  birds  apart,  and  on  picking  them  found 
in  one  five,  in  the  other  seven.  No.  8  shot  in  the  neck  and 
breast  in  front  of  the  wing. 

The  comparative  size  of  No,  8  shot  to  a  Quail,  is  abort  that 
of  grape  shot  to  a  man,  and  to  judge  of  the  tenacity  of  life  and 
muscular  motion,  we  must  imagine  a  man  running  half  a  mile 
at  the  top  of  his  pace  with  seven  grape  shot,  as  big  as  a  mode- 
rate sized  plum,  through  his  neck  and  the  cavity  of  the  sternum 
— a  thing  palpably  impossible  ! 

We  will  now  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  the  means  of 
overcoming  these  difficulties,  and  the  best  method  of  carrviiur 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


233 


fs  p;Urnt 
and  more 
ictly  cool, 
the  birds, 
1  fell,  and 
ions,  who 
open. 
;nt,  that  I 
n  front  of 
body ;  at 
ed  out  as 

'  into  the 
lile  down 

it  on  the 
isly,  and 
perfectly 

ing,  con- 
ad  flown 
nile,  and 
kimming 
which,  I 
i.  From 
5m  found 
leck  and 

boat  that 
"  life  and 
If  a  mile 
a  mode- 
sternum 

neans  of 
carrying 


on  the  pleasant  and  exciting  pursuit  of  this  beautiful  little  bird. 
From  the  greater  difficulty  of  finding  and  killing  Quail,  it 
follows  of  course  that  a  greater  combination  of  qualities  in  the 
dog  with  which  we  hunt  them  is  required. 

For  Snipe  or  Woodcock  shooting,  the  latter  especially, 
which  is  pursued  in  very  close  coveit  for  the  most  part,  we 
require  only  a  dog  with  good  hunting  qualities,  under  excellent 
coinmand,  broke  to  hunt  extremely  close  to  his  master,  and 
never  to  go  beyond  the  range  of  his  sight.  Indeed  if  he  do  not 
hang  upon  the  stale  scents,  and  potter  where  birds  have  been 
but  are  not,  a  dog  for  Woodcock  shooting  can  hardly  be  too 
slow  or  too  steady. 

Now  all  these  qualities  are  essential  likewise  to  the  Quail 
dog,  and  without  these  qualities  the  sp-^rtsman  can  have  no 
success  when  he  has  attained  the  first  c  bject  of  his  morning's 
work,  the  driving  and  scattering  his  birds  from  open  grain  or 
grass  fields  into  covert  wherein  they  will  lie  hard,  and  rise 
singly,  which  constitute  the  only  circumstances  under  which, 
north  of  the  Delaware  and  Potomac,  it  is  possible  to  bag  many 
Quail. 

Yet  this  is  far  from  all  that  we  require  in  a  Quail  dog ;  for 
as  we  are  compelled  to  seek  for  our  birds  in  the  open  feeding 
grounds,  while  they  are  running  in  the  early  morning,  and  as 
our  day's  sport  mainly  depends  on  finding  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  birds  during  that  short  time,  which  ends  at  the  latest,  by 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  eariier  in  warm,  sunny  days,  it 
follows  that  the  more  ground  we  tnn  get  over  in  a  given  time, 
the  greater  the  chance  of  success. 

We  require  therefore  that  our  brace  of  dogs  while  beating 
open  ground  should  have  dash  and  speed  enough  to  run  almost 
like  foxhounds  on  a  breast-high  scent,  heads  up  and  stems 
down,  quartering  the  field  from  fence  to  fence  in  opposite  direc- 
tions  and  crossing  each  other  midway— that  they  should  be  so 
staunch  and  steady  as  to  allow  the  shooter  to  come  up  to  them 
from  five  or  six  hundrqd  yards'  distance,  without  breaking  their 
point— and  lastly  that  they  should  be  under  command  so  perfect 


234 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


^■;^i^n^-'%: 


that  on  getting  into  covert  they  shall  cross  and  re-cross  their 
ground  fifty  times,  never  budging  twenty  yards  from  the  feet  of 
their  master,  and  working  as  slowly  as  the  slowest  Cock-dog. 

It  will  be  seen  at  once  that  such  a  combination  of  op25osite 
qualities  must  needs  be  very  rare ;  and  so  rare  is  it,  that  for 
every  hundred  of  good  Woodcock-dogs  which  I  have  seen 
in  this  country,  I  have  not  seen  ten  equally  good  on  Quail, 

I  shall  not  touch  here  on  the  comparative  and  much  disputed 
excellence  of  the  Pointer  or  the  Setter,  except  to  obsei-ve  that 
personally  I  greatly  prefer  the  latter ;  while  I  admit  .that  for 
persons  who  shoot  but  rarely,  and  who  do  not  like  the  trouble 
of  constant  supeiTision  of  their  dogs,  I  had  almost  said  constant 
dog-breaking,  the  Pointer  is  the  more  suitable  companion. 

I  have,  however,  seen,  indeed  have  owned  Setters,  which  in 
all  points  of  steadiness  might  have  competed  with  the  staunch- 
est  Pointers,  and  which  were  as  careful  and  under  as  good 
command  on  tlie  first,  as  on  the  last,  day  of  the  season. 

I  will  now  suppose  that  the  sportsman  has  arrived  at  his 
shooting  ground,  and  takeu  up  his  quartera  in  his  snug  country 
tavern  for  the  ni'jht,  previous  to  commencing  operations  in  the 
early  morning  over  a  brace  of  good  dogs.  Pointers  or  Settens, 
at  his  own  option. 

First  then,  let  him  see  his  dogs,  which  we  will  suppose  have 
run  some  part  of  their  journey  afoot,  well  suppered  on  mush, 
or  suppawn  of  Indian-meal,  or  oatmeal,  seasoned  with  a  little 
salt,  but  no  meat,  which  injures  the  nose  ;  and  well  bedded  on 
clean  wheaten  straw.  Next  let  him  sup  lightly,  limit  his  pota- 
tions to  the  second  glass,  and  eschew  a  second  pipe  or  cigar. 
Let  him  to-bed  early,  that  he  may  sleep  well  and  rise  refreshed 
and  with  steady  nerves. 

These  are  small  matters  doubtless — but  it  is  the  obsei-vance 
of  small  matters  that  makes  great  men  in  any  line,  and  in  our 
case,  good  sportsmen. 

Lastly,  let  him  assure  himself  before  retiring  to  rest,  that  his 
sheets  are  dry  and  well  aired,  no  inconsiderable  matter  to  him 
who  would  avoid  rheunratis^n.     If  ho  be  the  least  in  doubt,  and 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


235 


be  wise,  he  will  discard  the  suspected  linen,  and  turn  in  be- 
twcen  the  blankets. 

On  getting  up  in  the  morning,  all  ablutions  duly  performed, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  provide  for  the  needful  operation  of 
breaking  fast ;  and  this  must  neither  be  neglected,  for  no  man 
can  take  exercise  with  impunity  on  an  empty  stomach ;  nor 
must  it  be  done  too  luxuriously,  for  as  certainly  no  man  can 
walk  well,  or  fast,  or  keep  it  up  long,  on  an  overloaded  one. 
Here  is  my  method. 

I  have  found  it  impossible  to  get  out  early  enough  to  do  exe- 
cution  from  any  country  tavern,  if  one  waits  until  a  hot  break- 
fast is  prepared  My  method,  therefore,  is  to  take  with  me  a 
cold  ham,  or  a  cold  hunters'  round,  and  to  have  the  table  laid 
over  night,  in  addition  to  that,  with  bread,  butter,  and  cold 
milk,  on  which,  for  my  part,  I  can  breakfast  very  satisfactorily. 
This  done,  if  you  know  the  country,  go  to  the  place  where 
are  the  most  and  likeliest  grain  stubbles  lying  near  to  good 
woodland,  or  coppice  covert,  and  beat  them  regularly,  in  such 
a  manner  that  the  woods  shall  be  down-wind  of  your  beat.  Let 
your  dogs,  however,  beat  every  field  up-wind,  by  which  means 
they  will  scent  their  birds  one-third  farther  than  if  you  go  down- 
wind. 

Look  especially  to  the  sides  of  the  fields,  particularly  if  they 
are  bushy  ;  Quail  do  not  affect  the  middle  even  of  the  stubbles 
on  which  they  feed. 

If  your  dogs  trail  a  running  bevy,  never  run  or,  hurry  them. 
They  are,  if  you  do  so,  nearly  sure  to  flush  them  wild.  Be,  on 
the  contrary,  very  steadv  yourself,  and  cry  "  Steady  !  steady  ! 
Toho  !"  words  to  which  dogs  should  be  accustomed  early.  If 
they  point  fii-mly,  and  are  so  very  staunch  that  you  can  depend 
on  thom,  it  is  not  a  bad  plan  to  make  a  wide  circuit,  and  get 
a-head  of  the  bevy,  which  even  if  wild  and  running,  will  often 
squat  on  finding  itself  enclosed  between  the  dog  and  the  gun, 
and  thus  afford  good  shooting. 

If  you  drive  a  bevy  of  Quail  into  good  covert,  be  not  in  hasto 
to  foil  )w  it.     It  will  stay  there,  be  sure ;  and  you  will  find  them 


236 


FRANK   FORESTEH's   FIELD   SPORTg. 


far  more  certainly  after  half  an  hour  has  elapsed.  For  mysrlf 
I  have  found  it  the  best  plan,  where  woods  are  small,  and  ilio 
covert  thick,  to  go  on  beating  the  open  fields,  without  following'; 
the  bevies  at  all,  in  the  first  instance,  marking  them  down  care- 
fully when  they  rise,  until  the  feeding  and  running  hour  has 
passed, — then  to  follow  bevy  after  bevy,  whither  you  have  seen 
them  alight ;  and  knowing  their  whereabout,  if  not  the  exact 
spot  where  they  lie,  the  dogs  will  soon  find  them. 

Otherwise,  if  one  wastes  the  morning  in  killing  off  one  bevy. 
by  the  time  he  has  done  witli  it,  the  birds  will  have  crept  away 
into  their  hiding-places,  and  he  may  hunt  the  wood-skirts,  and 
brush-holes,  all  day  along,  without  finding  another,  even  where 
they  abound,  unless  he  blunder  upon  one  by  chance. 

During  the  heat  of  the  day,  if  one  have  not  found  birds  in 
the  morning,  although  it  is  pretty  much  chance  work,  bog  mea- 
dows, brown  bushes  on  southerly  and  westerly  hill-sides,  old 
pastures  with  much  bent  and  ragwort,  and  the  skirts  of  cop- 
pices, are  generally  the  best  ground,  though  in  some  regions 
they  will  be  found  in  large  open  woodlands. 

In  the  afternoon,  soon  after  four  o'clock,  the  bevies  again 
begin  to  run  and  feed,  and  in  this  part  of  the  day  they  will  fre- 
quently be  met  running  along  the  grassy  margins  of  streams 
which  flow  through  pasture-fields,  whither  they  resort  to  drink, 
or  at  least  to  crop  the  wet  herbage. 

So  good  is  the  chance  of  sport  at  this  time,  that  I  would  urge 
it  strongly  on  the  sportsman  who  has  failed  of  finding  his  bevies 
on  the  feeding  ground  in  the  morning — if  he  know  that  there  is 
a  fair  show  of  birds  in  the  district — not  to  persist  in  wearing  out 
himself  and  his  dogs,  by  fruitless  toil  in  the  heat  of  noon,  but 
rather  to  await  the  cool  afternoon,  when  he  will  very  often  make 
up  for  lost  time,  and  make  a  heavy  bag  when  circumstances 
have  looked  least  auspiciously. 

I  have  now  set  my  sportsman  fairly  in  the  field,  and  shown 
him  how  best  he  may  find  his  birds, — more  is  beyond  my 
means. 

A  crack  shot  must  in  some  sort  be  bom  ;  but  most  persons, 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


5>:37 


with  .rood  eyesight,  and  steady  nei-ves,  may  attain  to  respecta- 
bility, if  not  excellence,  in  this  gentlemanlike  and  manly  art. 

To  this  end,  practice  and  coolness  are  the  gieat  desiderata. 
Rules,  I  think,  avail  little,  if  anything.  I  have  seen  men  shoot 
excellently,  who  closed  one  eye  to  take  aim— excellently  who 
shot  with  both  open,— never,  however,  I  must  admit,  decently, 
who  shut  both— not,  by  the  way,  a  very  uncommon  occunence 
with  beginners.  I  have  seen  men  again  shoot  excellently,  car- 
rying  their  guns  at  full  cock,— excellently,  who  never  cocked 
either  ban-el  till  in  the  act  of  firing. 

There  is,  however,  one  thing  to  be  observed, — no  man  can 
shoot  well  in  covert,  or  at  snap  shots,  who  follows  his  bird  with 
his  gun,  or  dwells  on  his  aim — the  first  sight  is  always  the  best ; 
and  it  is  deliberate  promptitude  in  catching  this  first  sight  which 
alone  constitutes — what  my  poor  friend,  J.  Cypress,  Junior, 
used  to  call  the  rarest  work  of  nature — a  truly  cool,  truly  quick 
crack  shot. 

With  regard  to  hunting  dogs  on  Quail,  there  is  a  great  deal 
to  be  said ;  and  in  nothing  is  the  true  and  thoroughbred  sports- 
man more  distinctly  marked  from  the  cockney  pot-hunter,  than 
by  his  skill,  temper,  and  success,  in  managing  his  four-footed 
companions. 

Quail  shooting,  as  the  most  difficult  of  all  shooting,  and  re- 
quiring the  greatest  natural  qualifications,  and  most  perfect 
training  in  the  dog,  demands  also  the  greatest  science  in  the 
person  who  hunts  the  dog. 

The  great  desiderata  here  are,  first,  to  know  precisely  what 
a  dog  ought  to  do, — and,  second,  to  make  him  do  it. 

In  this  country,  far  more  sportsmen  fail  in  the  first — in  Eng- 
land more  in  the  second  particular. 

It  were  scarce  too  much  to  say,  that  four  sportsmen,  in  their 
own  opinion,  here,  out  of  five,  know  so  little  what  are  the  re- 
quisite performances  and  capabilities  of  a  dog,  that  within 
twelve  months  after  buying  a  perfectly  well-broke  doo-,  they 
permit  him  to  lose  all  he  has  ever  known,  merely  from  failing  to 
exercise  his  abilities,  and  punish  his  eccentricities. 


238 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD    SPORTS. 


I 


Hi 


As  in  all  other  tuition,  reward  az.d  punishment  must  both  be 
brought  into  play;  but  it  is  a  great  thing  to  remember  that, 
while  a  dog  should  never  be  allowed  to  disobey  an  order,  or  to 
commit  a  fault  unpunished,  it  is  well  neither  to  harass  him  by 
unnecessary  commands,  nor  to  tempt  into  faults  by  over  exac 
tion 

Moreover,  a  dog  cannot  be  managed  with  too  little  shouting. 
He  should  be  accustomed  always  to  obey  the  whistle  ;  and  he 
will  very  soon  learn  to  understand  the  meaning  invaiiably 
attached  to  any  combinations  of  that  sound,  turning  his  head  to 
observe  the  gesture  of  your  hand,  by  which  he  may  be  directed 
to  beat  this  way  or  that,  to  back  his  fellow's  point,  or  to  down- 
charge— the  signal  for  the  two  latter  duties  being  the  same,— 
the  hand  held  aloft,  with  an  erect  arm,  open,  with  the  palm 
facing  the  dog,  the  fingers  closed,  but  the  thumb  extended. 
This  motion  ought  to  arrest  a  dog  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  the 
instant  his  attention  is  called  to  it,  as  suddenly  as  if  he  were 
shot  dead ;  and  the  advantages  gained  fr(^  the  strictest  enforce- 
ment of  the  rule,  are  too  palpable  to  demand  further  comment. 

If,  therefore,  a  Setter,  or  Pointer,  is  broke  to  lie  down  im- 
mediately to  charge,  on  the  firing  of  a  shot,  and  to  turn  his  head 
at  every  whistled  call  of  his  master,  thereafter  obeying  one  or 
two  simple  gestures,  the  necessity  for  roaring  Jike  a  bull  of 
Bashan,  as  is  the  practice  of  most  dog-breakers,  and  all  cockney 
sportsmen,  will  be  entirely  obviated.  The  advantages  of  which 
will  be,  that  you  will  not  flush  four-fifths  of  all  the  game  within 
hearing,  nor  drive  your  fellow  sportsmen  crazy,  if  they  happen 
to  be  blessed  with  nerves ;  and  not  render  yourself  as  hoarse  as 
a  waterman  on  a  hackney-coach  stand,  by  bellowing  out  orders, 
which  your  dog,  nine  times  out  of  ten,  cannot  hear,  being  to 
windward  of  you. 

A  shrill  ivory  Avhistle  should  always  be  hung  from  the  button- 
hole of  the  jacket,  and  a  heavy  dog-whip  invariably  earned  in 
the  pocket ;  but,  although  neither  of  these,  in  their  way  highly 
useful  implements,  should  be  suffered  to  enjoy  a  sinecure,  if  is 
almost  unnecessary  to  observe  that  of  the  last,  even  more  than 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


S39 


of  the  first,  the  real  utility  will  be  greatly  diminished  by  too 
frequent  application 

I  shall  have  farther  occasion  to  speak  of  the  management  of 
dogs,  and  indeed  of  the  habits  and  mode  of  shooting  Quail  like- 
wise, under  the  head  of  "  General  Autumn  Shooting,"  which 
will  follow  the  few  remarks  I  shall  proceed  to  make  on  Pin- 
nated and  Ruffed  Grouse  shooting,  as  practised  apart  from  the 
pursuit  of  other  game. 


■^* 


.»# 


240 


PRANK    FORESTEU'S    FIELD   8P0R18. 


RUFFED    GROUSE    SHOOTING, 

VULOO,  — P  AUTRIIXIE      S  H  O  O  T  I  NO  . 


yf  T  was   m^    misfortune   once — 
^  once  only,  gentle  reader^in  my 
j^-.    life,  to  be  seduced  into  underta- 
king av  excursion  very  late  in 
the  season,  a  few  days  only  be- 
fore Chiistmas,  into  the  interior 
of  Connecticut,  for  the  especial 
n  .  p'li-pose  of  shooting  the  Ruffed 

Grouse,  or  as  it  is  there  termed.  Partridge. 

I  went  on  the  representation  of  a  friend,  who  while  Cock 

wei  ,  down,  had  moved  an  immense  number  of  these   birds 
whch  were  then  in  broods  with  the  old  hen.     He  a'  Id  1' 
-  he  fully  expected  would  prove  the  case,  that  we  should  c'r 
tamly   get   twenty   or  thirty   fair   shots     ach.    dail^  and  " 
consequence  I  looked  for  great  sport.  ^ '  " 

The  result  was,  that,  although  we  had  twn  h..        r  ^ 

other  occasion,  „„eefr  Sir  T  "'  '''""  *""•    °" 
t..  my  opinion,  o  .o  out  71  T"  •""■"""'<"'■  ■="""■"•/ 

or  .0  .eLe  ^  ^J::^^ :^^:  X::  t:.  i""'"  ^™'^' 

one  ca,„  have  been  soccessful  '  ""''"' '"  "^ 


UPLAND   SHOOTmo. 


£41 


The  RufTod  Grouse,  after  the  broods  have  separated  and  left 
the  hens  are  the  wildest  and  most  wary  birds  I  have  ever  pur- 
sued  when  the  woody  nature  of  the  haunts  which  they  affect 
18  taken  into  consideration.     They  have  also  the  most  rambling 
habit  of  any  American  game-bird,  except  the  Turkey ;  it  not 
bemg  an  uncommon  thing  for  the  single   birds,   or  the  small 
companies   mto    which   they   sometimes   form   themselves,    to 
wander  on  the  foot,  without  taking  wing  at  all.  ten  or  twelve 
miles,  at  a  stretch,  over  rough  hills  and  through  deep  wood- 
ands.     Add  to  this,  that   their  favorite  resorts  are  the  steep 
ledgy  8,des  of  rocky  hills,  covered  with  thick  wood,  and  that 
generally  of  evergreens,  as  pine,  hemlock,  or  red  cedar,  with 
an   undergrowth  of  the  great   mountain  rhododendron,  com- 
monly  known  as  laurel.     It  is  the  characteristic  of  this  sort 
of  woodland  that,  while  the  foliage  is  very  thick  and  intricate 
above,  on  a  level  with  the  breast  and  eyes  of  the  sportsman,  it 
18  for  the  most  part  perfectly  open  and  clear  below;  so  that 
while  the  hunter  has  the  greatest  difficulty  in  seeing  his  birds, 
the  birds  have  none  whatever  in  seeing  him  or  his  dogs.     Thev 
consequently  start  on  the  full  run-and  ho   who  has  tried  to 
secure  one  when  wing-tipped  or  slightly  wounded,  without  the 
aid  of  dog.  knows  what  pace  that  is-the  moment  the  sports- 
man enters  the  wood;  and  after  keeping  the  dogs  trailing  and 
reading  on  their  scent  for  a  mile  or  two.  either  flap  up  unper- 
ceived  into  a  tree,  or  take  wing  at  a  hundred  yards'  distance  • 
and  m  either  case  get  away  unshot  at.     On  this  account  they 
are  the  most  trying  bird  to  the  temper  of  a  dog  that  possibly 
can  be  imagined,  as  it  is  comparatively  speaking  of  very  rare 
occurrence  that  they  will  lie  to  be  pointed,  and  flushed  over 
the  point. 

The  exception  to  this  rule  is  where  they  are  found,  which  is 
rarely  the  case,  in  low,  swampy  thickets  of  heavy  covert  in 
level  country.  In  such  places,  if  you  have  the  luck  to  find 
them,  you  are  almost  certain  of  great  sport;  for.  where  the 
ground  18  thick  and  tangled  at  the  bottom,  they  will  squat 


VOL.  I. 


16 


Ill 


84S 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


finding  themselves  unable  to  run,  and  will  lie,  on  such  occa- 
Bions,  till  they  are  literally  kicked  up. 

I  have  never,  in  all  my  experience  of  shooting  in  this  coun- 
try, seen  this  occur  but  twice ;  and  in  fact  the  bird  is  so  seldom 
found  in  lowland  country,  that  I  consider  it  utterly  useless  to 
go  out  in  pursuit  of  Ruffed  Grouse,  except  as  an  adjunct  with 
other  birds  of  bolder  and  freer  wing. 

One  of  the  instances  I  have  alluded  to  above,  is  perhaps  not 
unworthy  of  notice,  as  I  believe  it  to  be  almost  unique ;  for  I 
have  met  no  sportsman  who  has  seen  any  thing  of  the  sort 
occur  with  the  RuiFed  Grouse,  though  with  the  Prairie  Hen  it 
often  happens.  It  occurred  during  early  autumn  shooting,  on 
the  second  or  third  of  November,  immediately  after  the  law  of 
New-Jersey  permits  this  bird  and  the  Quail  to  be  shot ;  and 
Woodcock  had  not  as  yet  forsaken  the  country.  I  was  beating 
fur  game  in  general,  but  rather  with  a  view  to  Cock  than  any 
other  bird,  in  a  long,  nar.  ow  swale,  between  a  steep  ridge  and 
an  open  meadow,  along  the  edge  of  which  my  companion  wns 
walking,  while  I  myself  made  good  the  whole  width  of  the 
alder  coppice  with  my  dogs.  Suddenly  both  the  Setters  came 
to  a  dead  point  at  a  small  patch  of  thick  briars  and  brambles 
close  to  the  meadow  fence,  and,  on  my  walking  up  to  them, 
finding  that  nothing  moved,  I  took  it  for  grant'jd  that  it  wiis  a 
Hare,  and  called  out  to  my  friend  to  look  out,  as  I  would  beat 
It  out  to  him.  On  kicking  the  briars,  however,  to  my  great 
surprise  a  very  fine  Ruffed  Grouse,  a  cock  bird,  rose  within 
ten  feet  of  me,  and  flew  directly  across  me  toward  the  hill. 
Unfortunately,  my  friend  fired  at  the  bird  across  me,  contrary 
to  all  rules  of  sportsmanship,  so  that  two  charges  were  wasted 
on  this  bird ;  for  immediately,  at  the  report,  three  more  birds 
rose  out  of  the  same  brake,  two  of  which  flew  across  him  over 
the  open  meadow,  both  of  which  he  must  have  killed  had  he 
reserved  his  fire,  as  he  should  have  done,  while  the  third  follow- 
ed the  cock  across  the  swale  to  the  ridge,  till  I  stopped  him. 

Taking  it  for  granted  that  all  the  birds  must  have  gone  now, 
four  barrels  having  been  fired  directly  over  the  thicket  in  which 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


?13 


they  lay,  I  made  some  observation  to  my  companion  about  his 
nushness  in  firing;  when  throe  more  birds  whirred  out  of  the 
same  bush  m  quick  succession,  and  of  curse  got  away  un8h„t 
at,  all  our  barrels  being  empty.     After  I  had   loaded,  yet  an 
eighth  bird   got  up  a  fow  yards  ahead,  having   crept   out    I 
imagine,  while  tlie  dogs  were  at  down  charge,  and  I  was  foitu- 
nate  enough  to  kill  it  also-thus  bringing  four  Ruffed  Grouse 
to  bag.  which  were  spi-ung  one  by  one.  or  very  nearly  so,  out 
of  a  thicket  less  than  thirty  feet  in  circumference.     We  ou-^ht 
certainly  to  have  got  one  more  bird,  at  least;  and  had  we  been 
as  silent  as  we  should,  might  possibly  have  bagged  them  all,  for 
hey  all  rose  within  four  or  five  yards  of  our  gun-muzzles,  and 
tlie  place  was  quite  open  and  fair  shooting  ground 

I  never  saw  a  more  evident  proof  of  the  great  propriety,  and 
great  gam.  of  attending  strictly  to  the  most  minute  rules  of 
sportsmanship  and  woodcraft ;  like  laws  of  military  tactics 
they  can  never  be  violated  with  impunity  ;  and  though  we  ob- 
serve them  ninety-nine  times,  the  violation  on  the  hundredth 
will  almost  certainly  prove  disastrous. 

I  know  an  instance  of  a  good  sportsman  in  the  city  of  New- 
York,  whose  name  I  do  not  record,  giving  him  the  credit  of  a 
remarkable  feat;    because,  being  in  business,  it  might  injure 
him  among  those  gentry  of  the  street,  who  think  no  hunting  but 
dollar-hunting  m^..,aW,/  .^ho  actually  brought  to  bag  eight 
i^innated  Grouse,  in  succession,  without  himself  moving  from 
his  ground,  or  his  dog  breaking  its  point.     This  occurred,  some 
years  since,  on  Martha's  Vineyard  ;  but,  as  I  have  observed 
betore,  I  know  no  authentic  instance  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse  ever 
^ing  in  the  same   manner,  after  the  separation  of  the  broods. 
Before  that  period,  they  of  course  lie  to  the  dog  as  the  Quail 
the  Prairie  Hen,  or  the  Grouse  of  the  British  Isles.     Hence  I 
consider  the  day  fixed  by  our  legislature  for  the  end  of  close 
time,  as  too  late  in  regard  to  the  Ruffed  Grouse. 

The  constantly  repeated  tale,  that  the  Ruffed  Grouse  when  it 
alights  in  trees  in  companies,  which  it  occasionally  will  do  in 
t  ^^o.  spring,  when  eating  the  young  buds,  of  which  it  is  extremely 


244 


FRANK    forester's   FIKLD   SPORTS. 


15)iul,  will  allow  the  whole  Hock  to  be  shot  down,  one  by  one, 
without  stirring,  provided  the  Hliooter  takes  the  precaution  of 
shooting  that  which  nits  the  lowest  on  the  tree,  first,  is  as  fabu- 
lous, as  it  is,  on  the  face,  ridiculous. 

Mr.  Audubon  notes  this  fact,  with  his  wonted  accuracy; 
adding  that  during  heavy  snow  storms  he  has  sometimes  killed 
three  or  four.  This  is  credible  enough ;  starvation  will  make 
any  bird  or  beast  tame,  and  snow  appears,  while  falling,  to 
have  a  peculiar  effect  on  birds  of  this  order— unlike  rain,  which 
makes  them  wild — rendering  them  very  unwilling  to  rise. — 
Savages  in  this  region  of  country— I  can  designate  them  by  no 
other  name— often  shoot  whole  bevies  of  Quail  while  huddled 
together  on  the  ground  in  their  little  circles,  during  snow 
stoi  ms,  in  this  manner,  at  a  single  shot.  So  far,  however,  are 
such  foul  practices  from  deserving  to  be  recorded  as  modes  of 
killing  game,  that  I  only  speak  of  them  here,  in  order  to  uphold 
them,  and  all  who  practice  them,  to  the  contempt  ai.'d  abhor- 
rence of  every  one  who  would  be  termed  a  sportsman. 

I  have  been  told  that  these  birds  exist  in  such  abundance  on 
the  Kaatskills,  and  in  all  that  region  of  country,  that  it  is  well 
worth  the  while  to  go  out  in  pursuit  of  them,  without  reference 
to,  or  rather  with  no  chance  of  finding  any  other  species  of 
game.  This  I,  at  least,  shall  never  attempt ;  nor  shall  I  ever 
advise  any  person  to  do  so.  I  know  that  they  abounded  in 
that  district  of  Connecticut  of  which  I  have  spoken  above,  as 
was  proved  by  the  fact  that  many  scores  were  offered  to  me  for 
purchase,  which  had  been  snared,  yet  it  was  impossible  to  get 
shots  at  them  over  dogs. 

Again,  throughout  the  semi-cultivated  portions  of  all  the 
Eastern  States,  and  especially  in  Maine,  the  woods  are  literally 
full  of  them  ;  yet  such  are  their  peculiarities  of  habit,  that  it  is 
useless  to  attempt  to  have  sport  with  them.  A  man,  stealing 
along  the  old  grassy  wood  roads,  keeping  absolute  silence  and 
a  bright  look  out,  may  manage  to  pick  up  a  brace  or  two  in  the 
course  of  a  day,  and  this  is  probably  more  than  the  best  sports- 
man living  can  effect  with  the  best  dogs— but  that  is  not  sport 
for  sportsmen ! 


trPLANU   SHOOTING. 


24^ 


The  RufTed  Grouso  is  a  Hingularly  handsome  bird,  whether 
on  the  ground  or  on  the  wing;  hx.king.  from  the  l.,„.sonosH  an  I 
downy  habit  of  his  leathers,  considerably  larger  than  ho  really 
w.     He  rises  with  a  very  loud  whirring  of  his  wings— which 
Mr.  Audubon  asserts  so  positively,  that  I  must  suppose  so  accu. 
rate  an  observer  to  be  surely  correct,  to  be  uttered  merely  at 
moments  of  alarm  and  sudden  trepidation,  the  bird  when  not 
forced  to  take  wing,  rising  noiselossly-and  gets  under  way 
mth  extreme  rapidity.     In  general,  this  bird  does  not  rise  much 
higher  than  a  man's  head,  and  then  flies  very  straight,  and  very 
swiftly,  at  an  even  elevation  for  several  hundred  yards;  after 
which  it  will  set  both  its  wings,  and  sail  dead  before  the  wind 
with  immense  velocity.     To  kill  the  Rulfed  Grouse,  when  thus 
Hkating  down-wind,  as  it  crosses  you,  having  been  flushed  at  a 
distance,  it  is  necessary  to  allow  a  considerable  space  for  the 
swiftness  of  its  motion  ;  and  I  should  fire  not  loss  than  two  feet 
m  front  of  one,  at  thirty-five  or  forty  yards'  distance. 

Going  directly  away  from  the  gun,  the  Rutfed  Grouse,  like 
the  Quail,  IS  an  awkward  bird  to  kill,  from  the  fact,  that  they 
both  fly  with  the  body  so  nearly  level,  that  the  rump  and  haid 
bones  of  the  back  receive  the  shot ;  and  in  this  part  of  the  body 
they  will  have  to  be  struck  very  heavily,  before  they  will  fall. 
Tt  18  a  good  plan  in  this  position  to  shoot  a  little  low,  as  you  are 
far  more  apt  to  over  than  to  under-shoot  them. 

A  cross  shot,  if  not  too  far  oft',  is  easily  killed  ;  as  the  bird 
affords  a  fair  mark,  and  will  not  can-y  off"  nearly  so  much  shot 
as  the  Quail,  if  struck  well  forward. 

Beginners  are  apt  to  shoot  behind  all  their  cross  shots,  and 
perhaps  especially  so  at  this  bird,  his  long  tail  and  loose  feathers 
tending  to  deceive  them. 

It  is  a  matter  of  exceeding  surprise  to  me,  that  this  bird  has 
not  been  naturalized  in  Great  Britain.  Its  extreme  hardihood 
would  render  its  success  certain  ;  and  in  every  part  of  the  coun- 
try,  but  in  the  woodland  and  forest  counties  especially,  Dorset 
s'lire,  Devonshire,  parts  of  Essex,  the  New  Forest,  throughout 
Wales,  and  in  many  districts  of  the  North  Country,  and  Soot-     " 


246 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


land,  it  would  very  soon  become  abundant.     Indeed,  the  hed"-e. 
rows  would  be  sufficient  to  hold  it,  everywhere  ;  and  from  what 
I  have  seen,  and  stated  above,  of  its  habits  in  the  low  grounds 
here,  I  do  not  doubt  that  it  would  there  aftord  sport  equal  to  any 
English  bird,  except  the  Red  Grouse.     Its  flesh  is  delicious,  if 
dressed  properly.     It   will  bear  to  be  kept  hanging,  in   the 
autumn,  two  or  three  weeks  with  manifest  advantage ;  it  should 
be  loasfed  quickly,  before  an  extremely  hot  fire ;  and  it  should 
be  exposed  at  once  to  the  full  heat,  at  a  short  distance,  so  as  to 
sear  the  pores  of  the  skin,  and  prevent  the   exudation  of  the 
juices ;  after  a  few  minutes  it  may  be  withdrawn  from  the  focus 
of  heat,  until  it  shall  be  cooked  through.      It  should  be  eaten, 
as  should  the  Grouse  and  Quail,  with  bread  sauce  and  fried 
crumbs, — any  sort  of  jelly,  or  sweet  condiment,  with  any  galli- 
naceous fowl,  or  any  meat  that  is  not  immoderately  fat  and  lus- 
cious, is  an  abomination.      As  a  variety,  either  this  bird,  or  the 
Quail,  is   delicious    larked,    boiled,  and  smothered  in  celery 
sauce ;  and  the  Quail,  en  passant  be  it  said,  is  undeniable  in  a 
pie,  with  a  fat  rump  steak  at  the  bottom  of  the  dish,  a  dozen 
hard-boiled  eggs,  and  the  slightest  possible  soupc/on  of  garlic, 
and  one  cayenne  pepper-pod. 

If  intended  to  be  eaten  cold,  both  birds  are  better  boiled  than 
roasted ;  as  they  will  be  found  on  trial  much  juicier,  and  less 
dry,  than  in  the  usual  mode. 

The  plan  resorted  to  by  French  cooks,  who  never  know  how 
to  cook  any  sort  of  game,  except  in  salmis,  or  the  like,  of  blan- 
keting these  birds  in  pork  fat,  cut  thin,  before  roasting  them,  is, 
of  course,  entirely  wrong.  It  prevents  the  gi-and  desideratum, 
namely,  the  searing  of  the  skin,  so  as  to  make  it  contain  the  na- 
tural juices ;  and,  instead  of  its  own  game  gravy,  saturates  it 
with  the  essential  oil  of  jrig. 

The  epicure  will  prefer  the  back-bone  and  thighs  of  this  deli- 
cious bird ;  and,  by  saving  them  for  himself,  he  will  also  gain 
the  credit  of  great  disinterestedness  from  the  ladies,  and  the 
snobs, — Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  intend  a  comparison,  in 
thus  uniting  them !  but  it  is  a  fact  that  they  both  invariably 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


247 


I,  the  heJge- 
id  from  what 
low  grouncia 
equal  to  any 
delicious,  if 
fing,  in   the 
je;  it  should 
nd  it  should 
fice,  so  as  to 
ition  of  the 
3m  the  focus 
Id  be  eaten, 
e  and  fried 
h  any  galli- 
fat  and  lus- 
bird,  or  the 
i  in  celery 
3niable  in  a 
jh,  a  dozen 
N  of  garlic, 

boiled  than 
sv,  and  less 

know  how 
:e,  of  blan- 
ig  them,  is, 
sideratum, 
ain  the  na- 
aturates  it 

f  this  deli- 
also  gain 
!S,  and  the 
jarison,  in 
invariably 


prefer  the  bosom,  as  I  believe  it  is  the  fashion  of  these  modest 
d  lys  to  term  the  white  meat. 

For  the  benefit  of  what  the  French  are  pleasod  to  call  amphi- 
tryons,  the  excellent  men  who  are  rich  enough  to  give  good 
dinners,  and  of  the  happy  men  who  are  allowed  to  eat  them, 
I  will  add,  that  red  wine  is  the  thing  with  game  of  all  kinds. 
Tlie  right  thing  of  all  is  Ghambertin,  or  clos  de  Vougeot !  but, 
in  default  of  these,  a  sound  Lafitte  or  Latour  claret  is  excel- 
lently well  in  place.  Champagne  is  not  the  thing  in  the  least ; 
and,  for  those  who  aspire  to  feed  themselves  or  their  friends 
creditably,  without  aiming  at  the  expense  of  the  costly  French 
red  wines,  allow  me  to  suggest,  that  a  glass  of  -  ood  gold  sherry 
is  perfectly  allowable  with  game.  Except  at  a  ball  supper,  no 
one,  except  counter-jumpers,  ever  think  of  champagne,  beyond 
one  tumbler  with  the  roti. 

The  next  thing  to  killing  your  game  handsomely,  after  find- 
ing it  gnostically,  is  undoubtedly  knowing  how  to  set  it  on  the 
table,  for  the  benefit  of  your  friends,  in  perfection,  and  with  the 
proper  accessories}  and  a  hint  or  two  on  this  subject  may  be 
pardoned,  even  in  a  work  on  field  sports,— especially  where 
such  abominations  are  practiced,  as  eating  Snipe  and  Woodcock 
high,  drawing  the  trail,  and  broiling  them  ;  and  eating  currant, 
or  plum  jelly,  with  roast  Grouse ;  or  cranberries  with  venison. 

Nothing  in  my  eyes  is  more  contemptible,  than  the  man  who 
cannot  rough  it  upon  occasion, — who  cannot  dine  heartily,  and 
with  a  relish,  on  a  bit  of  cold  salt  pork,  and  a  cinist  of  bread, 
when  he  can  get  nothing  better  ;  but  nothing  is  more  stupidly, 
or  hopelessly  savage,  than  the  man  who  does  not  care  what  he 
eats. 

In  the  code  of  game-cookery,  the  gridiron  is  an  article  of  the 
kitclien  prohibited,  unless  in  the  case  of  a  venison  steak,  a  Bear 
chop,  or  a  Wild  Duck.  To  broil  a  Quail,  or  a  Grouse,  much 
more  a  Snipe,  or  a  Woodcock,  ought  to  be  made— like/r^m^  a 
beefsteak — death  without  benefit  of  clergy. 


^i? 


u 


H'f  li 


248 


FRANK    FORESTEE's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


II 


III 


GROUSE    SHOOTING. 


HIS  noble  sport  I  have  never  my- 
self had  an  opportunity  of  enjoying, 
though   I  still  live  in    the  hope    of 
finding  myself  on  some  fine  autum. 
nal  morning,  in  the  Western  Prairies, 
with  two  or  three  brace  of  good  dogs, 
a  staunch  companion,  and  all  appur- 
tenances suitable  for  a  month's  sport. 
They  are  in  all  respects  the  noblest  bird,  which  is  to  be  shot 
over  Pointers  in  the  United  States ;  and  the  vast  numbers  in 
which  they  are  still  found  in  their  own  Prairie-land,  the  magni- 
ficent range  of  country  which  is  spread  out  before  the  eye  of 
the  sportsman,  the  openness  of  the  shooting,  and  the  opporlu 
nity  of  obsei-ving  all  the  motions  of  the  dogs,  must  render  this 
spoit,  like  Red  Grouse  shooting  in  Great  Britain,  the  queen  of 
American  field  sports. 

In  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  it  is  said  that  a  few  birds  still 
linger  among  the  sandy  pine  barrens,  along  the  southern  shore, 
but  if  so,  they  have  become  so  rare,  that  it  is  worse  than  useless 
to  attempt  hunting  for  them.  On  the  brush  plains  of  Long 
Island  they  were  entirely  extinct,  even  before  my  anival  in 
America.  Among  the  scrub  oaks  in  the  mountains  of  Pike  and 
Northampton  counties,  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  a  few  packs 
are  supposed  to  be  bred  yearly,  and  a  few  sportsmen  are  annu- 
ally seduced  into  the  attempts  to  find  them.     But  annually  the 


!i!r'li 


UPLAND  SHOOTING. 


249 


attempt  is  becoming  more  and  more  useless ;  and  anything  ap- 
proaching to  sport  is  absolutely  hopeless. 

Many  years  ago  I  spent  a  week  among  the  forest  land  north- 
ward of  Milford,  and  with  no  success  whatever,  not  so  much  as 
seeing  a  single  bird. 

In  Martha's  Vineyard  they  are  so  strictly  preserved,  that 
I  have  never  taken  the  trouble  of  travelling  thither  on  the  chance 
ofobtaming  permission  to  shoot  at  them,  although  I  am  well 
aware  that  there  are  sportsmen  from  New  York  who  resort 
thither  yearly  in  pursuit  of  them. 

On  the  barrens  of  Kentucky,  where  they  formerly  abounded, 
as  m  the  Eastern  States,  they  have  become  extinct ;  and,  in  truth, 
unless  the  sportsman  is  prepared  to  travel  so  far  as  Chicago,  St. 
Joseph's,  or  St.  Louis,  he  has  not  much  chance  of  obtaining  any- 
thmgto  reward  his  nains,  in  the  way  of  Grouse  shooting;  and 
It  IS,  perhaps,  worth  ol)serving,  that  in  the  present  advanced 
state   of  mternal  communication  with  the  Western  Country, 
there  is  no  real  difficulty,  and  no  great  expense,  in  the  way  of 
the  adventurer  who  would  try  his  fortune  on  the  Heath-Hen  in 
its  own  wild  haunts.     The  facilities  of  steamboat  travel  are  par- 
ticularly favorable  to  the  transportation  of  dogs ;  and  it  would, 
doubtless,  well  repay  a  party  to  set  off  at  any  time  after  the' 
first  of  September,  with  a  strong  kennel,  for  the  prairies. 

This  Grouse  breeds  early,  the  nest  being  generally  finished 
on  the  first  of  May;  the  eggs  are  rarely  more  than  twelve  in 
number,  the  hen  sits  eighteen  or  nineteen  days,  and  the  youncr 
run  so  soon  as  they  are  hatched.  This  species  never  raises  a 
second  brood,  unless  the  first  is  destroyed.  About  the  first  of 
August  the  young  are  about  equal  in  size  to  the  Quail,  and  are, 
I  regret  to  say,  at  that  age,  and  a  little  older,  butchered,  and 
pronounced  excellent  eating  by  men  who  take  the  name  of 
sportsmen. 

A  writer  in  the  "  Tuif  Register,"  under  the  title  of  "Tom 
Trigor,"  a  fellow  of  infinite  humor,  and  of  so  very  correct 
opinions  on  a  great  variety  of  topics,  that  I  mai-vel  at  his  prac- 
tice  in  regard  to  Grouse,  discourses  thus  on  the  habits  and 
modes  of  shooting  this  bird,  as  he  understands  them  :— 


i'  ■♦  S 


^m 


250 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


m. 


"  Well  then,"  says  he,  "  these  noble  birds  early  in  Septem- 
ber, or  even  so  soon  as  late  in  August,  who  have  y.hioped,  and 
strutted,  and  trumpeted  the  live-long  spring  and  summer,  the 
undisturbed  possessors  of  the  prairies,  are  now  leading  about 
their  broods,  some  three-quarter  parts  grown,  and  they  are  at  no 
time  in  better  condition  for  broiling,  the  most  delicate  spring 
chickens  yielding  to  them  in  flavor  ;  and,  a*  the  same  time,  their 
behavior  in  the  field  is  far  more  satisfactory,  and  accommodat- 
ing, than  at  any  other  period  of  their  lives,  They  now,  when 
once  they  have  scattered,  stick  to  their  concealment  in  the  long 
grass,  till  you  kick  them  up  with  your  foot,  and  the  amount  you 
can  then  bag,  need  be  limited  only  by  your  forbearance  or  your 
industry." 

In  my  humble  opinion,  "  Tom  Trigor's"  gastronomy  and  his 
srirtsmanship  are  about  on  a  par,  both  execrable.  The  man 
who  would  broil  a  Grouse  at  all,  when  he  could  possibly  cook 
it  otherwise,  or  who  could  compare  it  by  way  of  praise  with  a 
spring  cliicken,  must  have  about  as  much  idea  of  the  qualities  of 
game  on  the  table,  as  he  "ho  thinks  they  are  in  perfection  foi 
shooting,  when  they  are  too  weak  to  rise  on  the  wing.  I  should 
tliink  their  conduct  would  be  more  satisfactory  yet,  to  such  a 
gunner,  before  they  could  fly  at  all. 

Seriously  speaking,  from  all  the  really  good  sportsmen  with 
w^hom  I  have  spoken  of  Grouse  shooting,  I  learn  that  the  defect 
in  the  sport  consists  in  the  extraordinary  tameness  of  the  bird, 
and  the  infinite  facility  of  knocking  it  down  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  season,— the  killing,  in  fact,  partaking  almost  the 
character  of  butchery. 

To  quote  once  more  from  the  writer  above  cited : — "  Let  the 
gnostics  preach  about  its  being  not  '  sportsmanlike,  and  unhand- 
some, to  knock  down  m:;re  birds  than  you  can  consume.'  I'll 
make  out,  when  I  can,  my  twenty  brace  notwithstanding ;  and 
I  have  never  seen  Grouse  yet  at  such  a  discount,  at  this  season 
of  the  year,  but  what  all  that  could  be  killed  could  be  consumed  ; 
and,  if  I  haply  should  a  little  overstock  the  market,  there  is  no 
fear  of  thinning  off"  the  tribe,  for  tlieir  name  is  legion,  and  the 


TTPLAND   SHOOTING. 


251 


farmers  will  not  grieve  when  they  reflect  that  there  will  be,  at 
any  rate,  by  so  much  the  fewer  depredators  on  their  corn-fields 
next  autumn  and  winter,  when  it  may  truly  be  said,  they  are 
fruges  consumere  nati.  Moreover,  we  must  make  the  most  of 
them  now,  for  in  six  weeks  they  will  change  their  character  and 
habits  so  entirely,  that  by  no  ingenuity  can  we  possibly  get  near 
enough  for  a  shot ;  and  the  devils,  though  they  now  tumble 
over  on  the  reception  of  two  or  three  No.  8  shot,  will  then  carry 
off  as  much  lead  as  a  Galena  steamboat.  It  is  astonishing  how 
difficult  the  fuU-gi-own  birds  are  to  kill,— I  have  known'them, 
when  riddled  with  No.  4  shot,  to  fly  entirely  out  of  sight  and 
leave  you  bending  forward  your  neck,  in  hopes  that  as  you  have 
knocked  off  feathers  enough,  as  it  would  seem,  to  fill  a  bolster, 
that  straight  and  rapid  flight  must  soon  (alter ;  but  no,  on  goes 
the  bird  in  a  '  bee  line,'  till  his  figure  melts  into  thin  air,"  &c. 

It  is,  indeed,  sorry  work,  when  a  man  who  writes  so'  very 
well,  and  who  seems  to  possess  very  many  of  the  genuine  ideas 
and  feelings  of  a  sportsman,  should  condescend  to  promulgate 
euch  mischievous  nonsense  as  the  above.  I  note  this  the  n^ore 
willingly,  because  to  such  selfish  sophistry,  on  the  pait  of  sports- 
men,  more  than  half  the  difficulty  of  preserving  game  is  directly 
ascribable. 

For  who,  if  the  sportsman  shoots  out  of  season,  because  it  is 
easier  to  kill  half-grown  biixls  than  full-grown  ones,  or  becausi 
there  are  so  many  of  them,  that  two  or  threescore,  or  hundreds 
more  or  less,  will  not  be  missed,  will  abstain  fiom  doing  like- 
wise ]  Or  how  shall  we,  conscious  of  such  a  beam  in  our  own 
eye,  venture  to  extract  the  mote  from  our  brother's  ] 

The  arguments  advanced — if  arguments  they  can  be  called- 
in  the  above  precious  paper,  are  equally  applicable  to  every 
other  species  of  g;;me  that  flies. 

The  Quail  is  a  very  hard  bird  to  stop  when  full-grown,  and 
well  ot,  the  wing,  especially  in  wild  weather,  and  thick  covert— 
an  infinitely  harder  bird,  in  proportion  to  its  size,  which  makes 
it  all  the  more  difficult  to  hit,  and  precludes?  the  possibility  of 
using  large  shot,  than  the  Grouse— but  J  am  happy  to  say,  that 


M; 


252 


FRANK   FORESTERS   FIELD   SPORTS. 


I  never  in  my  life  heard  a  sportsipan  advocate  shooting  Quail 
in  July,  because  it  is  easier  to  kill  them  then,  than  in  November. 
Again,  that  it  is  not  impossible  to  kill  Grouse— Prairie  Ren- 
in the  autumn  and  winter,  is  rendered  sufficiently  evident  by  the 
quantity  of  these  birds,  killed  with  shot,  which  are  exposed  an- 
nually  for  sale  in  the  New  York  and  Philadelphia  markets,  over 
and  above  all  those  which  are  consumed  in  their  native  regions. 
Lastly,  the  reasoning  on  the  number  of  the  birds,  is  precisely 
that  which  has  led  to  their  annihilation  in  the  Eastern  and  Mid- 
land  States,  and  even  in  Kentucky,  and  which  is  equally  applicable 
to  every  species  of  game  in  every  district  wliere  it  is  abundant. 
I  have  heard  the  very  same  sort  of  talk  held  by  countrymen, 
in  defence  of  the  vile  practice  of  shooting  Woodcock  in  spring, 
where  there  were  then  thousands  of  those  birds.     The  conse- 
quence of  ti.it  talk  is,  that  there  are  now  none  in  those  regions. 
The  truth  is,  that  until  the  middle  of  October,  the  young  birds 
are  not  very  strong  on  the  wing,— after  that  period  they  become 
gradually  wilder  and  stronger,  and  take  longer  flights,  some- 
times even  to  the  distance  of  two  or  three  miles  in  open  country. 
Their  flight  is  less  rapid  than  that  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse, 
though  of  the  same  character.     It  does  not  make  so  loud  a' 
whiiTing  as  it  first  rises,  but  once  on  the  wing,  uses  the  same 
straight  even  course,  maintained  for  some  distance  by  frequent 
beats  of  the  wings,  after  which  it  will  float  foi  several  hundred 
yards  at  a  time  on  balanced  pinions,  with  the  velocity  gathered 
from  its  previous  course.     It  is  said  very  rarely  to  pass  over  the 
person  who  flushes  it,  even  by  the  most  sudden  sui-prise. 

It  feeds  on  stubbles  and  in  maize-fields,  and  is  to  be  hunted 
for  in  the  vicinity  of  such  grounds,  where  it  will  be  found  in  the 
greatest  abundance.  On  open  prairie-grounds,  the  highest  and 
speediest  rangers  are,  of  course,  the  best  dogs  over  which  to 
flhoot  the  Grouse,  as  is  the  case  with  the  Scottish  red  game, 
provided  always  that  the  animal  has  good  nose  enough  to  stand 
them  at  a  long  distance,  and  is  staunch  enough  to  allow  the 
sportsman  to  come  up  from  a  distance,  without  moving  on,  or 
flushing  his  birds. 


UPLAND   8HOOTINO. 


253 


I  Should  presume  that,  for  Grouse  shooting  in  aeneral  the 
Pointer  wo^d  be  preferable  to  the  Setter,  as'his  bid    s  Lt 
nous  for  us  d.like  to  water,  or  marshy  grou„d,-and  it  is  the 

thrtlanTTr  r:^  *'^^  '^  ^^"  ^"^^^^  ™-« ^-^  of 

hirst,  than  any  other  of  the  dog  kind.     The  Setter,  on  the  con 

wa  ds  his  whole  energy  and  strength,  in  hot  weather,  where 
water  is  not  to  be  obtained.     For  this  reason,  to  the  Eastward 
".  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  in  all  of  which,  brush  pla  ns 
pmes  and  oak  b..ens,  the  soil  is  equally  dry  and  sterile     he' 
Pointer  IS  as  much  preferred,  as  he  is  in  the  similarly  dry  Par- 

Red  and  Black  Grouse  are  found,  abound  with  springs    well- 
heads, brooks,  and  morasses,  and  on  these  the  gfeatfrspTed 
daring  and  dash  of  the  Setter,  as  well  as  the  advantage  he  de 
nves  from   his  well-protected  haiiy  feet,  gives  him'L   caP 
decidedly  over  his  smooth-haired  xival 

trv^Lf'^l'"  '';rr  ""  ^^^  P^'"^'  "  ^^  ^^«  ^««^--n  coun- 
try they  rarely  stand  before  the  Pointer;  and  I  think  the  Setter 

a  .ore  profitable  dog  there;"  but  I  must  confess  myself  ent^y 
at  a  loss  to  comprehend  the  meaning  oi  this  passage.  ^ 

In  Europe,  it  is  very  true  that  the  Setter  naturally  crouches 
dose  to  the  gi-ound,  falling  flat  on  his  belly  when  he'comL  on 
the  scent  of  his  game  even  at  full  speed,  and  flattening  himself 

Pointer  invariably  stands  erect  to  point  his  game. 

If  this  distinction  held  good  in  this  country,  the  meaning  of 
the  above  passage  would  be  clear,  but  such  is  not  the  case. 

rhere  is  no  difference  whatsoever,  of  which  I  am  aware,  in  the 
style  of  Pointers  and  Setters  finding  and  pointing  their  game 
on  this  side  the  Atlantic.  I  have  always  shot  over  Setters,  pre- 
ferring them,  by  all  odds,  for  general  work,  and  have  owned  at 
least  a  dozen  good  ones  myself  since  I  have  been  in  the  country 
besides  shooting  over  scores  belonging  to  other  persons,  and 
I  never  m  a  single  instance  have  seen  a  Setter  .e«  a  bird  in 
America.     This  is  not  a  distinction  of  training  but  of  natural 


iii  I 


H 

n 


I 


I'M 


iijji 


904 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


habit  in  the  races  ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  best  dog 
I  ever  owned  here  was  one  which  I  imported  from  England 
when  a  small  pup,  and  had  broke  in  New  Jersey.  I  never 
saw  either  his  dam  or  his  sire,  over  both  which  I  shot  in  Eng- 
land, point  a  bird,  and  I  never  saw  him  set  one.  The  first  bird 
he  ever  scented  was  a  Woodcock,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  and 
that  he  stood,  with  head  and  stem  high  in  the  air,  as  showily  as 
I  ever  saw  a  Pointer  stand. 

Nothing  has  ever  puzzled  me  more  completely  as  regards 
field  sports  than  this  fact,  and  I  cannot  figure  to  myself  any 
reason  that  is  at  all  satisfactory  for  the  difference  of  habit,  in 
the  two  coutitries.  I  have  sometimes  fancied  that  it  might  arise 
from  soil  or  climate  rendering  the  scent  colder  here  than  in 
England— for  Jt  is  certain  that  the  hotter  the  scent,  the  closer 
the  dog  sets~\mt  I  cannot  see  that  this  holds  good  by  analogy, 
as  I  think  dogs  find  and  point  their  game  fully  as  far  off  here' 
as  in  Europe. 

This  obsei-vation  of  Mr.  Audubon's  has  brought  the  matter, 
at  this  moment  strongly  to  my  mind,  and  has  almost  raised  a 
doubt  within  me,  whether  to  the  Westward  the  Setter  may  not 
possibly  resume  his  natural  inclination  to  set  rather  than  stand 
his  game. 

In  wooded  regions  it  is  to  be  remarked,  that  these  birds  are 
rarely  if  ever  to  be  found  among  open  groves  and  tall  timber, 
such  as  are  peculiarly  Joved  by  the  Rufied  Grouse ;  th.y  fre- 
quent tracts  of  low  bushes  and  stunted  underwood;  and  when 
on  the  wing  will  fly  for  miles  rather  than  alight  until  they  can 
find  a  clear  place,  such  as  an  old  road-way,  or  a  new  cutting,  in 
which  to  settle.  They  generally  run  forward  swiftly  as  soon  as 
they  strike  the  ground,  and  not  unfrequently  press  themselves 
mto  thick  covert,  where  they  squat,  and  are  compelled  to  lie 
hard  by  the  difliculty  which  they  experience  in  taking  wing, 
from  the  opposition  of  the  dense  foliage. 

They  are  a  shy  bird  in  covert ;  and  are  of  course  much 
wilder  to  the  Eastward,  where  they  are  incessantly  persecuted, 
than  in  the  Western  Country. 


trPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


2fl5 


The  Grouse  invariably  makes  a  clucking  noise  when  it  takes 
wing  before  a  dog,  and  if  it  rises  within  distance,  is  a  very  easy 
shot.  No.  7  early  in  the  season,  and  later  No.  5,  are  the  best 
sizes  of  shot.  After  that,  I  should  prefer  rerf  Ely's  cartridges 
of  No.  5  shot,  which  I  will  be  bound  to  say  will  fetch  thorn 
from  a  good  twelve  or  fourteen  guage  gun  of  proper  weight, 
held  by  a  quick  hand,  and  levelled  by  a  true  eye,  at  any  period 
of  the  season. 

Mr.  Audubon  observes,  contrary  to  the  remarks  cited  above 
from  Wdson  and  Dr.  Mitchill,  that  the  Grouse  drinks  when  in 
a  state  of  nature,  like  the  common  fowl,  and  farther,  that  it  is 
exceedingly  susceptible  of  domestication,  even  breeding  freely 
m  captivity.  ^ 

The  remarks  with  regard  to  beating  with  dogs  for  the  Quail 
and  Ruffed  Grouse,  and  for  shooting  both  these  birds  on  the 
wmg,  except  so  far  as  they  are  here  modified,  ar^  all  applica- 
ble  to  the  Prairie  or  Heath-Hen. 

The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  not  white,  like  that  of  the  Ruffed 
Grouse,  but  red,  like  that  of  the  Scottish  Moor  Fowl,  which  in 
many  respects  it  resembles.  It  has  more  of  the  bitter  taste 
than  the  Ruffed  Grouse,  and  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  decidedly 
supenor  bird.  It  will  bear  to  be  hung  for  some  days,  or  even 
weeks  m  cold  weather,  and  is  to  be  cooked  and  eaten  accord- 
ing to  the    direction    given  under  the  last  head. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  well  to  state  here,  that  there  is  certainlu 
110  distinction  whatsoever  between  the  Heath-Hen  of  Long 
Island  and  Martha's  Vineyard,  the  Grouse  of  the  pines  and 
scrub  oaks  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Prairie- 
Hen  of  the  West. 

They  are  all  one  and  the  same  bird-the  Pinnated  Grouse. 
Tetrao  Cupzdo,  of  the  ornithologist,  and  emphatically  the 
trRousE  of  the  sportsman. 

Of  the  Canada,  or  Spotted  Grouse,  it  is  in  vain  to  speak,  for 
he  IS  not  as  yet  to  be  shot,  and  I  apprehend  never  will  be  in 
sporting  style  Ths  ground  in  which  to  find  him  is  the  d;ep 
larch  and  ceda.  woods,  especially  the  former,  of  Maine,  \ova 


I 


256 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  and  if  anywhere  he  exists  in 
sufficient  numbers  '■^  i-oncTeT  the  pursui*^  of  him  exciting  as  u 
sport,  I  have  no  (louct  that  the  dogs  over  which  to  shoot  him 
would  be  well  broke  CocKing  Spaniels. 

I  believe  that  the  flesh  of  this  species  is  the  most  highly 
flavored  of  all  the  varieties  of  Grouse  which  we  possess,  though 
I  but  once  had  an  opportunity  of  tasting  it.  It  is  said  to  be 
very  bitter,  which  I  presume  to  bo  thut  yicy,  aromatic  game 
flavor  which  gives  the  zest  to  the  Grouse  above  all  other  birds, 
in  the  eyes  of  the  true  epicure. 


r» 


m 


rWi 


nrLA.VD  sHooTma. 


257 


AUTUMN    SHOOTING. 


fr  H  brllllnnt  AMt.imn  time,  the  m<Ht  brllll^int  time  of  all 
When  the  gorge-.u,  w.mds  aro  gl«aM,l,.K  ore  the  leave,  tegln  t„  ll.ll- 
When  the  „m,.le  huugh.  ure  crh.Hon.  and  the  hickory  ,hl,.e.  lik.,  goW. 
V\  h«„  the  noon,  ur.,  .ul.ry  hot,  u,.d  „.«  „ight,  wo  f„„ty  cold ; 

When  the  co.uitry  ha,  no  arm-,,  h..t  tl,,,  ,vvord-gra.«  by  the  rllt 
And  the  ivlllow,  in  the  valley,  and  the  pine  u|mn  the  hill  ■         ' 
U'l.on  the  ,,i,,,,i,.  leave,  the  bough,  and  the  .u„.ach-,  frult'l.  rod. 
And  the  Unall  is  pi„i„g  lo^j  f,.,„.  ,he  bnckwheat  where  he  fed  • 

When  the  8ky  U  blue  a.  steel,  and  the  river  clear  a.,  gla«, 
W  hen  the  ,„,„  i,  on  the  mountain,  and  the  network  on  the  ,ra,„ ; 
When  the  harvest,  all  are  housed  and  the  far.ner's  work  Udone, 
Ajid  the  woiKlland  U  resounding  with  the  spauioU  and  the  gun  ■ 


^^UCH  is  the  season  of  the  sports- 
;  man's  adoration ;  to  him,  the  lover 
I  of  boon   nature  in  her   loveliest 
mood,  thcHB  days  are  not,  as  Mr. 
Bryant  in  his  beautiful  poem  has 
I  described  them,  to  him  at   least, 
I "  the  melancholy  days,"  "  the  sad- 
idest   of  the    year,"  nor,  with  all 
;  deference  to  that  sweet  bard   and 
^    _  ^  moralist  of  the  woods  and  waters, 

»'an  I  agree  with  him  as  to  the  tone  of  sentiment  and  feeHng  exci- 
ted  by  the  contemplation  of  the  scenery  of  an  American  autumn. 
It  18  true  that  we  know  ourselves   to  be  looking  upon,  as  it 
were,  a  hectic  loveliness,  which,  like  the  glow  on  the  cheek  ot 
consumptive  beauty,  is  the  precurst.r  of  decay  and  death.     Still 
so  exquisite  is  that  beauty,  so  delicious  the  temperature,  the' 
atmosphere,  the  aspect  of  the  skies ;  so  gorgeous  the  hues  of 
lurest-mantled  mountain  and  deep  woodland,  that  to  me  the 

VOL.  I,  .  _ 


>6S 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD    SPORTS. 


promise  of  spring  and  the  fullness  of  summer  are  both  inferior 
to  the  serene  and  calm  decline  of  the  woodland  year.  It  leads 
to  death  indeed;  but  it  seems  to  me  rather  to  resemble  the 
tranquil  and  gentle  close  of  a  well-spent  life,  beautified  by  the 
consciousness  of  good  deeds  done  during  the  heat  of  youth,  and 
in  the  heyday  of  manhood,  and  enriched  by  the  hope  of  glor  es 
to  shine  forth  after  the  winter  of  the  grave,  than  the  termination 
of  an  existence  to  be  dreaded  or  deplored. 

Every  land  has  its  own  season  of  peculiar  loveliness  ;  and  if 
the  sweet  spring-tide  of  soft  and  dewy  England,  with  its  May 
smiles  and  its  April  te  irs  and  its  rich  breath  of  flowery  fra- 
grance, has  awakened  the  fond  sympathies  of  her  landscape- 
loving  poets,  the  many-colored,  purple-hazed,  and  silvery-skied 
autumn  of  America  has  neither  been  unhonored  nor  unsuno-  of 
lyres  worthy  to  hang  aloft  in  high  niches  of  the  temple  conse- 
crate to  the  noblest  tongue  of  the  modem  universe. 

The  true  sportsman  must  ever  be  a  lover  of  the  charms  of 
rural  scenery,  and  for  this  among  other  things  1  love  and  honor 
sportsmanship.  I  do  not  believe  that  any  genuine  forester,  be 
his  exterior  as  rough  as  the  shell  of  the  prickly  chestnut,  but 
must  have  within  his  heart,  though  he  may  lack  words  to  define 
the  sentiment,  something  of  the  painter's  spirit,  and  the  poet's 
fire.  The  very  nature  of  his  pursuits  must  needs  awaken 
contemplation  and  induce  thought,  and  I  have  often  observed 
that  the  spots  to  which  he  will  conduct  you,  apparently  with- 
out a  thought,  except  in  reference  to  their  convenience, 
wherein  to  take  your  noonday  meal,  or  your  afternoon  siesta, 
will  be  the  very  places  to  chann  the  poet's  fancy,  or  fix  tha 
painter's  eye. 

I  think  no  lover  of  nature  can  be  an  unkindly,  or,  at  the  bottom, 
an  evil-minded  or  bad  man. 

And  so — and  so  1  Instead  of  pausing  longer  thus,  or  solidly 
and  solemnly  discussing  the  theory  of  sporting  matters,  we  will 
at  once  walk  mto  the  practice. 

"We  will  suppose  the  time  of  the  year  such  as  our  poorbnllrul- 
monger  above  quoted  has,  perhaps,  labored  to  depict, — the  time 


liji  !!■ 

■''Uni    III: 


PPLAND   SHOOTING. 


269 


of  the  morning,  not  the  peep  of  day,  but  eight,  or  by'r  ladv  » 
nu,e  of  the  Shrewsbury  clock,  when  the  autumnaf  sun  ha^ 
hfted  h.8  broad,  jovial,  ruddy  face,  from  his  dewy  pillow  and 
raised  U,  looming  large  and  blood-red  through  the'thin  ha"e 
above  the  mountain's  brow.  There  has  been  a  touch  of  fi-  t' 
dunng  the  mght,  and  its  silver  fretwork  is  still  white  over  the 
deep  after-g  ass  and  yet  unaltered  fern  leaves.    The  air  is  clear 

the  mmd,  as  if  it  were  champagne  inspired  by  the  nostrils. 

Hid!ri!r''i'^'"'f  '°^  ff«"tle  valley,  bordered  on  either 
side  by  hills,  cultivated  to  their  mid  height,  and  crowned  aloft 
with  the  unshorn  primeval  woodlands.     The  meadows  in  the 
bottom,  along  the  clear  brimful  stream-in  Europe  it  would 
aspire  to  be  called  a  river-are  green  and  soft  as  velvet ;  but 
the  woods  and  swamps  in  the  vale,  are  rich  with  every  color  that 
the  pamter'.  pallet  can  afford .-  the  blood-red  foliage  of  the 
maples,  the  gold   of  the  hickories,  the  chrome  yellow  of  the 
poplars,  the  red  russet  of  the  oaks,  the  dull  purple  of  the  do.- 
woods,  mixed  with  the  sable  green  of  the  late  alder  tops   the 
everiastmg  verdure  of  the  rhododendrons,  and  the  lights'ome 
greenery  of  the  willow,  forming  a  marvellous  succession  of  con- 
trasts and  accidents  of  light  and  shade,  all  blended  into  one 
harmonious  whole,  such  as  no  other  scene  or  season,  no  other 
clime  or  country,  can  exhibit. 

And  at  this  time  of  year,  at  this  hour  of  the  morning  and 
into  such  a  landscape,  we  will  imagine  a  braoe  of  sportsmen 
emerging  from  the  doorway  of  the  country  tavern  in  which  thev 
have  spent  the  night,  with  their  canine  companions,  and  a  stout 
rustic  follower,  loaded  with  supernumerary  shot-belts  and  game- 
bags  carrying  in  his  dexter  claw  a  stiff  hickory  cleaning-rod 
and  leading  with  his  sinister  a  leash  of  large,  bony,  red-and- 
white  Cocking  Spaniels. 

Our  sportsmen,  for  the  nonce,  adopting  old  Izaac  Walton's 
quaint  nomenclature,  which  figureth  forth  something  of  the  cha- 
racter from  the  name,  we  will  call  Agilis  and  Peritm.  The 
former  youthful,  and  somewhat  rash,  yet  neither  altogether  ver- 


I'K 


2Q0 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


IlilH'! 


1,     1 

S.    it         } 


dant  nor  inexpert  in  the  mysteries  of  the  fowlingpiece, — the 
latter  deliberate,  though  ardent,  perfect  with  the  gun,  steady 
with  the  dogs,  and  a  master  of  those  noble  sciences,  hitdit. 
venene,  and  woodcraft. 

They  are  both  aptly  habited  for  the  field,  in  russet  shooting- 
jackets,  of  stout  corduroy,  or  fustian,  long-waisted  waistcoats, 
low-crowned  hats,  and  ankle-boots  of  cowhide.     The  younger 
man,  however,  sports  a  pair  of  loose,  fashionably-cut  trousers, 
while  the  elder  has  donned  knee  breeches,  and  tight  russet  Ica- 
them  leggins.     Each  has  a  double-barrelled  gun  under  his  arm, 
and  the  other  appliances  of  flask  and  pouch,  hidden  in  his 
roomy  pockets.     Neither  wears  any  game-bag,  but  an  ivory 
whistle  is  suspended  from  the  upper  button-hole  of  both  jackets. 
The  dogs  which  are  following,  docile  at  the  heel,  are  a  brace 
of  Setters  of  the  highest  breed,  one  a  red  dog,  with  a  black 
nose,  and  without  a  speck  of  white,  except  a  snip  on  his  breast, 
and  a  tag  to  his  fine,  feathery  stern,— the  other  black  and  tan  ;' 
the  perfection  each,  this  of  the  Irish,  that  of  the  English  strain, 
and  indicating  in  some  sort  that  perfection  by  their  colors. 

"  And  so,  Peritus,"  said  the  younger  and  slighter  man,  as  they 
took  their  way  through  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  "  you  augur 
well  of  our  chance  of  sport  to-day  V 

"  I  do  not  think,  Agilis,"  replied  his  friend,  "  that  there  is 
any  chance  about  it.  It  has  been  a  good  breeding  year  for 
Quail,  and  they  say  that  they  are  abundant ;  then  the  autumn 
has  been  seasonable,  and  the  nights  have  not  been  shai-p  enough 
to  banish  the  Woodcock.  There  is  a  bit  of  pretty  Snipe  ground 
on  our  beat  too,  and  we  shall  get  a  few  couple,  without  doubt. 
Those,  with  a  brace  or  two  of  Rnffed  Grouse,  which,  I  dare  say, 
^e  shall  manage  to  pick  up  nmong  the  cedar  knolls,  and  along 
the  wood-edges,  a  few  Hares,  and,  perhaps,  some  Wood-duck, 
or  Teal,  or  even  a  Mallard,  by  chance,  will  make  up  something 
in  the  way  of  a  bag." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  find  all  these  varieties  of  game  1     I  have 
never  shot  above  three  kinds  in  a  day." 

"  Ah  !  you  have  not  shot  before  'n  autumn  in  America.    For 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


861 


tins  very  reason  it  is  the  prettiest  and  most  exciting  sport  in  tlie 
world  ;  that  you  can  never  even  form  a  conjecture  what  is  going 
to  get  up  before  you,  until  you  see  it  on  the  wing.  Now,  my 
good  friend  Rusticus,  will  you  take  yourself  and  the  Spaniels 
to  the  tall  oak  tree  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  yonder,  and  do  your 
best  to  mark  down  every  bevy  we  flush,  to  a  yard.  When  we 
rejoin  you,  we  will  couple  up  the  Setters,  and  beat  the  swales 
and  thickets  with  the  little  dogs.  Now,  hold  up,  lads!  look 
sharp,  Agilis,  they  are  drawing  already.  There  has  been  a 
bevy  running  here  since  the  sun  was  up.  See  how  gingerly 
they  crawl  over  the  tainted  grass.  Now  they  are  standing 
both  of  them.     Is  not  that  a  picture  V 

And  they  stepped  up  to  the  dogs,  which  held  their  point  as 
stiff  and  staunch  as  if  they  had  been  cast  in  bronze,  or  carved 
in  marble. 

"Hold  !  Agilis  !  Don't  head  them,  my  dear  fellow.  I  want 
to  let  them  go,  if  they  will,  into  those  sprouts  on  the  hill  side. 
They  are  close  under  the  red  dog's  nose.  There  !  they  are  ud  ! 
Steady!"  ^ 

Bang  !   bang  !  ^ 

"  Bravo  !  a  brace,  Agilis !  very  neatly  done,  I  assure  you ; 
you  let  them  go  far  enough  then,  yet  not  too  far,  before  firing. 
You  never  killed  a  Quail  before,  hey  1" 

"  Never  on  this  side  the  water,  Peiitus.  In  France  and  Spain 
I  have  shot  a  good  many." 

"  A  different  bird  altogether,  though  of  the  same  order.  Not 
half  so  bold,  or  strong,  or  swift  on  the  wing,  as  this,  which  some 
writers  call  the  American  Partridge." 

"  Is  it  a  Partridge  or  a  Quail,  Peritus,  after  all  ?" 
"  Neither  one  nor  the  other,  Agilis,  an  intermediate  link  be- 
tween the  two,  but  approximating  nearer  to  the  Quail.     See 
the  red  dog  has  retrieved  one— good  dog,  Sancho !  A  pretty  bird' 
is  it  not?" 

"  Very.  But  what  did  you  do  ?  I  was  busy  trying  t-  mark 
the  bevy,  and  did  not  see  your  shots." 

"  Oh  !  I  killed  two,  of  course.  It  was  quite  open.  Did  you 
mark  them?"  f  j  » 


i  ! 


Mi 

h 


f     •'    ' 


262 


FRANK    FORESTER'S   FIELD   SPOUTS. 


"  No.  I  could  not,  with  certainty.  But  I  think  they  dropped 
in  that  bog-meadow,  near  yon  pine  tree." 

"  No,  Agilis,  you  did  not  cast  your  eye  forward  sufficiently 
in  watching  them,  as  they  skimmed  low  over  the  ground  before 
the  wind.  They  went  four  hundred  yards  farther,  and  are  down 
iu  that  thicket,  with  the  willows  at  this  end." 

"  Aye !  you  have  a  keen  eye,  Peritus.  Well,  let  us  follow 
them  at  once." 

"  Practice  ia  more  than  keenness  of  sight,  in  marking.  But 
we  will  by  no  means  follow  them  at  once.  We  must  find  seve- 
ral other  bevies,  and  drive  them,  if  possible,  the  same  way  " 

"  Must  we, — that  seems  strange." 

"  Yes.  I  will  tell  you  about  it  at  luncheon  time  ;  but  now 
come  on.  The  dogs  are  roading  another  bevy.  Look  forward 
beyond  the  crag  there,  by  the  cedars." 

But  Peritus  was  in  error;  it  was  not  another  bevy,  but  a 
Ruffed  Grouse,  which  rose  a  moment  afterward  with  a  loud 
whirring,  out  of  a  brake,  and  was  cut  down  handsomely  by  the 
older  sportsman,  after  being  missed  by  Agilis ;  who,  fluttered  by 
the  noise,  shot  a  little  too  quickly  at  him. 

Five  minutes  afterward  the  black  Setter  stood  suddenly  and 
dead,  in  a  dry  maize-stubble,  before  Agilis,  and  a  moment  later 
Sancho  drew,  and  came  to  a  doubtful  point  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion, without  seeing  his  companion. 

"  Look  alive,  Agilis  ;  that  is  either  a  Cock  or  a  Hare  before 
you,  and  Sancho  is  upon  a  running  bevy." 

It  was,  sure  enough ,  a  Hare  ;  which  bounced  up  instantly  out 
of  its  forni,  among  some  long  grass  and  weeds  in  the  maize- 
stubble,  and  was  tumbled  over  before  it  had  run  many  yards, 
by  Agilis.  At  the  report  the  bevy  of  Quail  rose  wild,  and  at  a 
long  distance  ;  which  did  not,  however,  hinder  Peritus  from  drop- 
ping one,  killed  clean  at  fifty  yards,  or  upward. 

"  A  long  shot,  and  a  good  one  !"  said  Agilis. 

"  It  was  an  Eley's  cartridge.  Loose  shot  would  scarce  have 
stopped  him.  Those  birds  have  gone  into  the  saplings  on  tlie 
hill-side,  and  they,  I  doubt  not,  are  full  of  Woodcock.  We  are 
sure  of  sport  now." 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


263 


»3.iaii  we  go  after  this  bevy  1" 

"  Not  yet,  I  had  rather  wait  till  they  begin  to  run,  we  may 
very  likely  miss  them  otherwise." 

On  they  went,  therefore,  and  perfectly  right  were  they  to  go 
on  ;  for  Perit'is'  mode  of  beating  for  Quail  is  the  true  one 
This  cunning  little  bird,  having  either  the  power,  or  the  pecu 
liarity,  of  retaining  its  scent  for  some  sho- 1  time  after  alighting, 
when  it  is  alarmed,  so  that  the  best  dogs  in  the  world  shall  fail 
to  find  it.  This  may  be  an  accidental  provision  of  nature,  pos- 
sibly owing  to  some  contraction  of  the  pores,  and  consequent 
check  of  the  odoriferous  effluvium,  owing  to  alarm ;  but  I  am 
rather  inclined  to  believe  that  it  is  an  absolute  power  of  the 
bird,  and  arising  from  an  exertion  of  will, — since  I  have  inva- 
riably observed,  during  the  period  in  which  the  Quail  gives 
forth  no  scent,  it  cannot  be  forced  to  rise  even  in  the  openest 
and  most  easy  ground,  unless  actually  almost  trodden  on, 

I  have  repeatedly  marked  Quail,  literally  to  a  yard,  both  in 
open  bog-meadows,  and  in  woods  of  tall  dmber,  clear  of  under- 
brush, and  have  beat  unsuccessfully  with  good  dogs,  immedi- 
ately after  marking  them,  until  almost  convinced  that  I  was 
»nistaken  i*^  the  fact  of  their  having  dropped  where  I  imagined. 
Yet,  on  returning  afterward,  when  they  had  begun  to  move 
about,  and  call  a  little,  I  have  found  my  first  opinion  to  be  cor- 
rect. 

On  one  occasion,  I  distinctly  remember  marking  three  Quail 
into  a  little  briar  patch,  on  a  diy  tussocky  meadow,  and  seven 
more  of  the  same  bevy  some  fifty  or  sixty  yards  farther,  into 
long  grass  and  rushes,  by  the  margin  of  a  boggy  stream,  under 
willows. 

At  this  time  I  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  peculiarity  of  which 
I  am  ppeaking ;  but,  owing  to  the  lay  of  the  ground,  and  the 
direction  of  my  beat,  I  had  no  option  but  to  try  it  at  once.  I  beat 
the  briar  patch,  vv hu  ';.  ?ould  not  have  exceeded  twenty  yards  in 
diameter,  carefully  to  and  fro,  with  a  brace  of  Setters,  crossing 
and  recrossing  if.  and  myself  kicking  und  trampling  the  bushes, 
but  in  vain. 


!t 


?  I 


264 


FRANK   FORESTEK's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


If.    i 


On  coming  under  the  wilows,  both  dogs  stood  instantaneous- 
ly on  two  different  birds,  which  proved,  however,  to  be  Wood- 
cock.      Eight  or  nine  of  these  latter  birds  we  flushed  and 
bagged,  without  moving  any  Quail  except  one  which  I  almost 
trod  upon,  a  second  alter  my  best  dog  had  gone  within  a  foot  of 
it,  taking  no  notice  of  its  presence.     My  companions  laughed  at 
me,  for  expressing  an  opinion  that  the  Quail  were  still  there, 
within  a  few  yards  of  us ;  but  it  proved  that  I  was  not  in  error. 
A  Woodcock  went  away  unshot  at,  or  at  least  unwounded, 
and  led  us  a  long  stretch  off  the  direction  of  our  intended  beat ; 
while  hunting  for  ir  we  found  another  bevy  of  Quail  scattered, 
and  had  some  spo  T  with  it,  by  which  we  were  amused   and 
occupied    during   half  an   hour.      Returning    across    tie   first 
ground,  we  got  six  points  at  six  single  birds.  Quail,  under  the 
willows ;  and  in  consequence  went  back  into  the  briar  patch, 
scarcely  enti-r'ng  it  before  the  Setters  stood  on  the  first  three. 
The  fact  is  difficult  to  explain,  but  a  fact  it  is ;  and  it  occurs 
only  with  the  unwounded  birds.     I  have  never  known  Setters 
to  have  the  smallest  difficulty  in  footing  crippled  Quail,  which 
always  run  or  tumble  about  as  soon  as  they  alight,  or  in  point- 
ing dead  Quail.     I  have  even  seen   dogs  find   me  dead  Quail 
among  a  whole  bevy  of  live  ones,  which  they  could  not  scent 
at  that  time,  but  which  they  did  subsequently  hunt  up  in  good 
style. 

Therefore,  I  say  Peritus  was  in  the  right  of  it,  in  drawing 
his  distinction  as  he  did  on  that  day ;  for  he  not  only  improved 
his  chance  of  finding  more  bevies  by  purauing  them  while 
they  were  on  the  run  In  the  early  moniing,  and  so  scattering 
them  into  good  shooting  covert,  where  he  was  sure  to  find  them 
again  during  the  basking  hours,  when,  unless  flushed  and 
marked  down  before,  they  can  scarcely  be  raised,  but  increased 
the  likeliho  id  of  finding  his  birds  in  good  style.  And  all  this 
he  explained,  in  many  more  words  than  I  have  space  to  use, 
and  with  many  an  apt  illustration,  while  he  and  Agilis  were 
lying  down  under  a  sunny  bank  by  a  clear  springhead,  regaling 
t'  emselves  an  hour  or  two  after  noon^  with  the  cold  chicken  and 


TTPLAND   SHOOTING. 


265 


the  sherry  which  Peritus  had  recommended  as  the  best  form 
of  luncheon. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  are  perfectly  right  about  this,  Peritus," 
said  his  friend.   »  Indeed,  the  practice  has  proved  the  principle, 
for  we  have  got  forty-five  or  forty-six  Quail  between  us,  out  of 
those  first  four  bevies,  besides  thirty  Cock.     It  is  glorious  sport 
indeed."  ^ 

"  Not  very  bad,  certainly,  Agilis ;   and  you  have  shot  well 
too,  which  inclines  you  to  think  of  the  sport,  perhaps,  with  more 
than  ordinary  complacency.     But  mark  me,  if  we  had  followed 
up  that  first  bevy  we  should  not  have  flushed  or  marked  the 
other  five,  all  of  which,  you  remember,  the  dogs  trailed  as  they 
were  rambling  about  on  the  feed,  before  the  day  got  warm. 
It  would  have  occupied  us  till  eleven  o'clock  to  pick  up  that 
one  bevy,  had  we  been  able  to  move  it,  which  is  doubtful ;  and 
by   that  time    all  the  others  would  have   huddled    themselves 
away  into  some  little  dry  sunny  nook  or  o  her,  where  it  would 
have  been  ten  to  one  against  our  stumbling  upon  them.     As  it 
is,  before  that  same  hour  we  had  stirred  six  bevies,  four  of 
which  we  have  used  up,  while  I  hear  the  other  two  calling  even 
now  in  that  great  swamp,  where  we  will  give  a  good  account 
^f  them  likewise,  when  we  have  finished  these  cigars. 

"Aye!  I  observe  all  thr^,  and  see  the  sportsmanship  of  it, 
Peritus  ;  what  noble  birds,  moreover,  these  autumn  Woodcock 
are.  All  full  grown  birds,  with  fine  gray  foreheads,  and  pink 
legs.  They  must  weigh  one-third  more  ea  h  than  the  young- 
lings  we  slaughtered  in  July." 

"  True,  O  king !  at  least  one-third  more.  Now,  don't  you 
think  we  ought  to  give  up  summer  Cock  shooting  1" 

"  I  never  thought  otherwise.  What  between  the  therm;  me- 
ter  at  ninety  in  the  shade,  and  the  myriads  of  mosquitoes,  I  do 
not  lock  upon  summer  shooting  as  fit  sport  for  any  man  who  is 
not  as  thick-shelled  as  a  lobster,  and  him  it  would  be  likelv  to 
boil."  ■' 

"  What  autumn  shooting  we  should  have,  if  they  would  but 
abolish  summer  Cock  shooting,  and  enforce  their  own  laws  !" 


i 


;* 


r'm 


I   1  ij 


?66 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


A     " 


"  Aye!  indeed,  but  let  us  on.     My  cigar  is  finished.     Hush  ! 
husli  !     "What  are  those  1" 

"  Wood-duck,  by  Jupiter!  eight  of  them ;  and  they  have  drop- 
ped in  the  bed  of  the  brook,  just  under  the  big  white  oak  tree  ; 
they  are  after  the  acorns.  Keep  the  dogs  close,  good  Rusticus ; 
now,  Agilis,  cram  down  an  Ely's  cartridge  in  each  barrel  and 
let  us  steal  down  upon  them.  Try  to  get  a  sitting  shot  on  the 
water  first,  and  then  give  them  the  second  barrel  as  they  rise." 
"  Excellent !  excellent,  Peritus.  I  see  your  words  are  about 
to  be  made  good.  I  have  bagged  a  Mallard  already,  and  you 
two  green- winged  Teal — " 

"And  a  Pin-tail,"  answered  Peritus,  "besides  Grouse,  Quail, 
Hare  and  Woodcock.  And  now  we  will  have  four  or  five 
Wood-duck ;  and  there  are  the  Snipe  bogs.  Off  with  you,  but 
keep  your  head  down  and  crawl  low ;  the  Wood-duck  is'not, 
however,  a  wild  Duck." 

Within  ten  minutes  four  barrels  sent  forth  their  contents,  and 
five  Ducks  came  to  bag,  and  thence  the  friends  went  forward 
to  the  Snipe  ground,  where  some  eighteen  or  twenty  long  bills 
were  picked  up,  fat,  large  and  lazy  ;  and  thence  again  into  the 
wide  deep  swampy  woodlands,  where  the  yelping  of  the  Span- 
iels, the  flip-flap  of  the  rising  Woodcock,  the  whiiT  of  the  startled 
Quail,  and  the  louder  hurtling  of  the  Ruffed  Grousa,  succeeded 
rapidly   by  the  loud  ringing  gunshots,  gave  note  of  glorious 
sport  until  sundown,  when  the  increasing  darkness  put  a  stop 
to  the  joyous  labors  of  the  unwearied  sportsmen.     The  tale  of 
that  day's  bag,  and  it  was  a  real  day,  and  a  real  bag,  was  as 
follows  : 

Seven  Ruffed  Grouse,  sixty-two  Quail,  forty  Cock,  nine- 
teen Snipe,  nine  Hares,  five  Wood-duck,  two  green-winged 
Teal,  a  Mallard,  and  a  Pin-tail,  brought  to  bag  by  two  guns, 
in  about  eight  hours'  shooting— one  hundred  and  sixty-six  head 
of  game,  of  nine  different  varieties. 

That  is  the  best  day's  sport  I  ever  saw ;  I  fear  I  never  shall 
see  such  another,  certainly  I  shall  not  in  the  same  region. 

Nothing  in  the  way  of  sport  can,  I  think,  be  better,  and  such 


4 

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UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


2G7 


waa  tvvolvo  years  since  within  fifty  miles  off  New- York,  suc}i  is 
in  the  intorior  of  the  southern  tier  of  counties  of  that  State,  and 
such  is  in  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  places  in  the  West,  the 
autumn  shooting  of  America. 

And  that,  mine  English  readers,  without  a  game-keeper  or  a 
preserve  in  all  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  hind  ;  and,  I  might 
almost  say  without  a  game-law,*  so  limited  is  the  sphere  of 
operation  of  aese  latter,  so  narrow  and  perverse  their  enact- 
ments, and — above  all — so  little  are  they  regarded.  But  this 
alao !  will  soon,  if  not  amended,  abolish  altogether  the  Field 
Sports  of  America. 


*  At  the  moment  of  correcting  the  press  ol  this  page,  I  learn  that  the  game- 
law,  which  I  mentioned  above,  as  having  been  prepared  by  myself  and  submit- 
ted to  the  Sportsman's  Club,  of  New- York,  has  been  presented  by  petition 
from  the  counties  of  Rockland  and  Orange,  has  passed  the  Tiegislature  of  the 
State,  and  is  now  law  for  those  two  gallant  counties.  There  is  no  more  summer 
Ctjck-shooting,  gentlemen,  in  Orange  or  Rockland — the  first  two  counties  of 
America  in  which  I  ever  pulled  a  trigger.  Bravo,  the  river  counties !  Who  will 
bo  the  next  to  follow  the  glorious  example?  Long  Island,  Westchester,  Pui- 
niun.  Duchess — and  last,  not  least — New-Jersoy,  the  eyes  f  men  are  upon 
you ! 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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S68 


PRANK   FOBESTER'h    FIELD   SPORTS. 


RAIL;    AND    RAIL    SHOOTING. 


HIS  singular  and  delicious  little  bird 
is  so  peculiar  in  its  character  and 
,  habits,  although  of  an  order  which 
affords  several  species  of  our  most 
esteemed  game,  viz.:  Grcdlatores,  and 
the  mode  of  pursuing  and  shooting  it 
is  so  distinct  from  any  other  kinds  of 
sport,  that  I  have  judged  it  best  to 
keep  It  under  a  head  entirely  separate  from  other  field  sports, 
with  no  one  of  which,  in  truth,  has  it  the  smallest  connexion  or 
alliance. 

"  RaUus  Carolinm—Ortygormtra  Carolinus—the  Carolina  RaU-^ 
the  Sora  Rail—vulgo,  the  Rail. 

"  Male  9|.14. 

"Passes  across  the  United  States,  both  by  the  interior  and 
along  the  coast.  Some  breed  in  New  Jersey  Rar«ly  seen 
east  of  Massachusetts.  Extremely  abundant  in  autumn  on  the 
Delaware  and  other  streams  furnished  with  wild  oats.  A  few 
reside  in  Florida  and  Louisiana  in  winter. 

"Adult  male.  * 

"  Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  rather  stout,  deep,  compressed, 
tapenng.  Upper  mandible  with  the  doraal  outline  nearly 
straight,  being  slightly  convex  toward  the  end,  the  ridge  flattish 
for  a  very  short  space  at  the  base,  very  slightly  extended  on  the 
forehead,  narrow  in  the  rest  of  its  extent ;  the  sides  convex 
toward  the  end,  the  edges  sharp,  inflected,  with  a  slight  sinus 


UPLAND  SHOOTING. 


269 


close  to  the  tip.  Naaal  groove  broad,  and  extending  to  two- 
thirds  of  the  length  of  the  bill.  Nostrils  linear,  lateral,  sub- 
medial,  pervious.  Lower  mandible  with  the  angle  long  and 
narrow,  .the  sides  erect,  the  doreal  line  sloping  upward,  the 
edges  inflected,  the  tip  nanowed,  the  gap  line  straight. 

"  Head  rather  small,  oblong,  compressed.  Neck  of  moderate 
length.  Body  rather  slender,  much  compressed.  Feet  of  mod- 
erate length,  rather  stout;  tibia  bare  a  short  way  above  the 
joint;  tarsus  of  ordinary  length,  compressed,  anteriorly  covered 
with  broad  scutella,  posteriorly  with  smaller,  and  on  the  sides 
reticulated.  Hind  toe  very  short  and  slender,  middle  toe 
longest,  and  longer  than  the  tarsus,  fourth  considerably  shorter 
than  the  third,  and  a  little  longer  than  the  second;  toes  free, 
scutellate  above,  much  compressed,  with  an  inferior  sharp' 
margin.  Claws  rather  long,  exceedingly  compressed,  slightly 
arched,  tapering  to  a  fine  point,  flat,  and  marginate  beneath. 

"  Plumage  rather  stiff",  but  blended,  slightly  glossed  above. 
Feathers  of  the  forehead  with  the  shaft  enlarged  and  slightly 
extended  beyond  the  tip.  Wings  short  and  broad.  Alula 
large  ;  primaries  curved,  broad,  tapering,  but  rounded,  second 
longest,  third  scarcely  shorter,  first  equal  to  sixth ;  secondaries 
broad  and  rounded.  Tail  extremely  short,  much  rounded,  of 
twelve  feeble  rounded  feathers ;  the  upper  and  lower  tail  cov- 
erts  nearly  as  long  as  the  tail  feathers. 

••  Bill,  yellow  at  the  base,  dusky  toward  the  end.     Iris  bright 
chestnut.     Feet  yellowish-green  ;  claws  light-brown.     A  broad 
band  surrounding  the  base  of  the  bill,  the  central  part  of  the 
crown,  the  chin,  and  the  fore-neck  in  its  whole  length,  brown- 
ish-black.    Ear  coverts  olive-brown  ;  a  band  over  the  eye,  the 
cheeks  and  the  sides  of  the  neck  ash-grey.     Sides  of  the  crown, 
the  hind-neck,  and  the  rest  of  the  upper  parts  olive-brown.     The 
feathei-s  brownish-black  in  the  centre,  those  on  the  back  with 
two  marginal  lines  of  white.     Smaller  wing  coverts  of  a  lighter 
brown;    secondary   coverts   margined    with  black    and  white 
markings ;  quills  dusky  olive-brown,  as  is  the  tail.     Middle  of 
breast  and  abdomen  greyish-white  ;  sides  barred  with  brownish 


270 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


black  and  greyish-white,  as  are  the  lateral  feathers  of  the  rump  • 
those  of  the  abdomen  reddish-yellow.  . 

"  Length  to  end  of  tail,  9^^  inches;  to  end  of  wings,  8|;  to 
end  of  claws.  12  ;  extent  of  wings,  14  ;  wing  from  flexure,  i,% ; 
tail,  2;  bill  along  the  ridge,  f| ;  along  the  edge  of  the  lower 
mandible,  {§;  tarsus,  1^,;  its  middle  toe,  1^;  its  claw,  4,V. 
Weight,  7  oz. 

"  Adult  female. 

"  The  female  differs  considerably  from  the  male  in  coloring. 
Ihe  naked  parts  and  iris  are  similar,  as  are  the  upper  parts 
generally;  but  the  black  around  the  baae  of  the  -bill,  on  the 
head  and  fore- neck,  is  wanting,  the  fore  parts  of  the  head  being 
hght-brown,  the  chin  whitish,  the  sides  of  the  neck  light  grey- 
ish-brown. The  white  lines  of  the  back  are  duller,  and  the 
dark  bands  of  the  sides  of  a  lighter  tint. 

"  Young  male. 

«  The  young  male,  after  its  first  moult,  is  intermediate  in  color 
between  the  adult  male  and  the  female,  but  more  like  the  lat- 
ter,  the  black  on  the  head  and  fore-neck  appearing  in  spots, 
and  the  sides  of  the  neck  being  nearly  as  in  the  female."— 
Audubon's  Birds  of  America. 

"Of  all  our  land  or  water  fowl,  perhaps  none  afford  the  sports- 
man more  agreeable  amusement  or  a  more  delicious  repast 
than  the  little  bird  now  before  us.  This  amusement  is  indeed 
temporary,  lasting  only  two  or  three  hours  in  the  day,  for  four 
or  five  weeks  in  each  year,  but  as  it  occurs  in  the  most  agree- 
able  and  temperate  of  our  seasons,  is  attended  with  little  or  no 
fatigue  to  the  gunner,  and  is  frequently  successful,  it  attracts 
numerous  followers,  and  is  pursued  in  such  places  as  the  birds 
frequent,  with  great  eageraess  and  enthusiasm. 

"  The  natural  history  of  the  Rail,  or  as  it  is  called  in  Virginia 
the  Sora.  and  in  South  Carolina  the  Coot,  is  to  the  most  of  our 
sportsmen  involved  in  profound  and  inexplicable  mystery  It 
comes  they  know  not  whence,  and  goes  they  know  not  where. 
No  one  can  detect  their  first  moment  of  arrival ;  yet  all  at  once 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


271 


the  reedy  shores  and  grassy  marches  of  our  large  rivers  swarm 
with  them,  thousands  being  sometimes  found  within  the  space  of 
a  few  acres.  These,  when  they  do  venture  on  wing,  seem  to  fly 
80  feebly,  and  in  such  short  fluttering  flights  among  the  reeds,  aa 
to  render  it  highly  improbable  to  most  people  that  they  could 
possibly  make  their  way  over  an  extensive  tract  of  country.  Yet 
on  the  first  smart  frost  that  occurs,  the  whole  suddenly  disap- 
pear,  as  they  had  never  been. 

"  To  account  for  these  extraordinary  phenomena,  it  has  been 
supposed  by  some  that  they  bury  themselves  in  the  mud.  but  as 
this  18  every  year  dug  up  into  ditches,  by  people  repairing  the 
banks,  without  any  of  these  sleepers  being  found,  where  but  a 
few  weeks  before  these  birds  were  innumerable,  this  theory  has 
been  abandoned.     And  here  their  researches  into  this  mysteri- 
ous matter,  generally  end  in  the  common  exclamation  of.  What 
can  become  of  them  ]     Some  profound  inquirers,  however,  not 
discouraged  with  these  difficulties,  have  prosecuted  their   re- 
searches with  more  success,  and  one  of  these  being  a  few  years 
ago  near  the  mouth  of  James  River,  in  Virginia,  where  the 
Rail,  or  Sora.  are  extremely  lumerous,  has,  as  I  was  informed 
on  the  spot,  lately  discovered  that   they  change  into  Frogs 
having  himself  found  in  his  meadows  an  animal  of  an  extraordi- 
nary  kind,  that  appeared  to  be  neither  a  Sora  nor  a  Frog, 
but.  as  he  expressed  it.  something  between  the  two.     He  car' 
ried  it  to  his  negroes,  and  afterwards  took  it  home,  where  it 
lived  three  days,  and  in  his  own,  and  in  his  negroes'  opinion  it 
looked  like  nothing  in  this  worid  but  areal  Sora  changed  into  a 
Frog  !     What  farther  confirms  this  grand  discoveiy.  is  the  well- 
known  circumstance  of  the  Frogs  ceasing  to  halloo  as  soon  as 
the  Sora  comes  in  the  fall. 

"  This  sagacious  discovery,  however,  like  many  others  re- 
nowned  m  history,  has  found  but  few  supporters,  and  except  his 
own  negroes,  has  not,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  made  a  single  con- 
vert  to  his  opinion. 

"Matters  being  so  circumstanced,  and  some  explanation  ne- 
cessary, I  shall  endeavor  to  throw  a  little  more  light  on  the 


(41 


\X) 


272 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


subject  by  a  simple  detail  of  facts,  leaving  the  reader  to  form 
his  own  theory  as  he  pleases. 

"  The  Rail,  or  Sora,  belongs  to  a  genus  of  birds  of  which  about 
thirty  different  species  are  enumerated  by  naturalists,  and  these 
are  distributed  on  almost  every  region  of  the  habitable  parts  ol 
the  earth.     The  general  character  of  these  is  every  where  the 
same.     They  run  swiftly,  fly  slowly  and  usually  with  the  legs 
hanging  down,  become  extremely  fat,  are  fond  of  concealment, 
and  whenever  it  is  practicable,  prefer  running  to  flying.     Most 
of  them  are  migratory,  and  abound  during  the  summer  in  cer- 
tain countries,  the  inhabitants  of  which  have  very  rarely  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  them.     Of  this  last,  the  Land  Rail  of 
Britain   is  a  striking  example.     This  bird,  which   during  the 
summer  months  may  be  heard  in  almost  every  grass  and  clover 
field  in  the  kingdom,  uttering  its  common  note,  'crek,  crek;  from 
sunset  to  a  late  hour  in  the  night,  is  yet  unknown  by  sight  to 
more  than  nine-tenths  of  the  inhabitants. 

"  Itt:  well-known  cry,  says  Bewick,  is  first  heard  as  soon  an 
the  grass  becomes  long  enough  to  shelter  it,  and  continues  till 
the  grass  is  cut,  but  the  bird  is  seldom  seen,  for  it  constantly 
skulks  among  the  thickest  part  of  the  herbage,  and  runs  so 
nimbly  through  it,  winding  and  doubling  in  every  direction, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  come  near  it.  When  hard  pushed  by  the 
dog,  it  sometimes  stops  short  and  squats  down,  by  which  means 
its  too  eager  pursuer  overshoots  the  spot  and  loses  the  trace. 

"  It  seldom  springs,  but  when  driven  to  extremity,  and  gene- 
rally flies  with  its  legs  hanging  down,  but  never  to  a  great 
distance  ;  as  soon  as  it  alights  it  runs  off,  and  before  the  fowler 
has  reached  the  spot  the  bird  is  at  a  considerable  distance. 

"  The  Water-crake,  or  Spotted  Rail  of  the  same  country, 
which  in  its  plumage  approaches  nearer  to  our  Rail,  is  another 
notable  example  of  the  same  general  habit  of  the  genus.  Its 
common  abode,  says  the  same  writer,  is  in  low,  swampy 
grounds,  in  which  are  pools  or  streamlets  overgrown  with 
willows,  reeds  and  rushes,  where  it  lurks  and  hides  itself  with 
great  circumspection.      It  is  wild,  solitary  and  sly,  and  will 


VPLANO   SHOOTING. 


273 


U»eli  to  be  knocked  on  the  head,  rather  than  rise  before  the 
sportsman  and  his  dog.  The  Water  Rail  of  the  same  country 
18  noted  for  the  like  habits.  In  short,  the  whole  genus  possess 
this  strange  family  character  in  a  very  remarkable  degree 

"  These  three  species  are  well  known  to  migrate  into  Britain 
early  ,„  the  spring,  and  to  leave  it  for  the  more  southern  paits 
of  Europe  m  autumn.     Yet  they  are  rarely  or  never  seen  in 
their  passage  to  or  from  the  countries,  where  they  are  regularly 
found  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  and  this  for  the  ver, 
same  reasons,  that  they  are  so  rarely  seen  even  in  the  places 
they  inhabit.     It  is  not,  therefore,  at  all  surprising,  that  the  re- 
gular migrations  of  the  American  Rail,  or  Sora.  should  in  like 
mrnner  have  escaped  notice  in  a  country  like  this,  whose  popu- 
ation  bears  so  small  a  proportion  to  its  extent,  and  where  the 
study  of  natural  history  is  so  little  attended  to.     But  that  these 
migrations  do  actually  take  place,  from  north  to  south,  and  vi^e 
versd,  njay  be  fairly  inferred  from  the  common  practice  of  thou- 
sands  of  other  species  of  birds,  less  solicitous  of  concealment, 
and  also  from  the  following  facts  :— 

"  ^»  ^he  22d  day  of  February,  I  killed  two  of  these  birds  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  where  they  have 
never  been  observed  during  the  summer.     On  the  second  day 
of  the  May  following,  I  shot  another  in  a  watery  thicket,  below 
l-hiladelphia.  between  the  rivers  Schuylkill  and  Delaware  in 
what  IS  usually  called  the  Neck.     This  last  was  a  male  in  full 
plumage      We  are  also  informed  that  they  arrive  at  Hudson's 
Bay  early  m  June,  and  again  leave  that  settlement  for  the 
feouth  early  m  autumn. 

"That  many  of  them  also  remain  here  to  breed,  is  proved  by. 
he  testimony  of  persons  of  credit  and  intelligence,  with  whom 
I  have  conversed,  both  here  and  on  James  River,  in  Virginia 
who  have  seen  their  nests,  eggs,  and  young.  In  he  exZive 
meadows  that  border  the  Schuylkill  and  Delaware,  it  wa  fl 
mcrly  common,  before  the  country  was  so  thickly  settled  to 
fi.-.cl^young  Rail  in  the  first  mowing  time,  among  ^  gr'a^ 

18 


274 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


Mr.  James  Bartram,  brother  to  the  botanist,  a  venerable  and 
still  active  man,  of  eighty-three,  and  well  acquainted  with  this 
bird,  says,  that  he  has  often  seen  and  caught  young  Rail  in  his 
own  meadows,  in  the  month  of  June  ;  he  has  also  seen  the  nest, 
which,  he  says,  is  usually  in  a  tussock  of  grass,  is  formed  of  a 
little  dry  grass,  and  had  four  or  five  eggs  of  dirty  whitish  color, 
with  brown,  or  blackish  spots.  The  young  run  off'  as  soon  as 
they  break  the  shell,  are  then  quite  black,  and  run  about  among 
the  grass,  like  mice.  The  old  ones  he  has  very  rarely  obsei-ved 
at  that  time,  but  the  young  often.  Almost  every  old  settler  along 
these  meadows,  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  hab  occasionally 
seen  young  Rail  in  mowing  time,  and  all  agi'ee  in  describing 
them  as  coveyed  with  blackish  down.  There  can,  therefore,  be 
no  reasonable  doubt  as  to  the  residence  of  many  of  those  birds, 
both  here  and  to  the  northward,  during  the  summer. 

"  That  there  can  be  as  little  doubt  as  to  their  winter  retreat, 
will  appear  more  particularly  towards  the  sequel  of  the  present 
account. 

"  During  their  residence  here  in  summer,  their  manners  exactly 
correspond  with  those  of  the  Water-crake  of  Britain,  already 
quoted,  so  that  though  actually  a  different  species,  their  parti- 
cular habits,  common  places  of  resort,  and  eagerness  for  con- 
cealment, are  as  nearly  the  same  as  the  nature  of  the  climates 
will  admit. 

"  Early  in  August,  when  the  reeds  along  the  shores  of  the  De- 
laware have  attained  their  full  growth,  the  Rail  resort  to  them 
in  great  numbers,  to  feed  on  the  seeds  of  this  plant,  of  which 
they,  as  well  as  the  Rice-birds,  and  several  others,  are  immo- 
derately fond.  These  reeds,  which  appear  to  be  the  Zizania 
panicula  effusa  of  Linnaeus,  and  the  Zizania  clavulosa  of  Willin- 
den,  grow  up  from  the  soft  muddy  shores  of  the  tide-water, 
which  are,  alternately,  dry,  and  covered  with  four  or  five  feet  of 
water.  They  rise  with  an  erect  tapering  stem,  to  the  height  of 
eight  or  ten  feet,  being  nearly  as  thick  below  as  a  man's  wrist, 
and  cover  tracts  along  the  river  for  tnany  acres.  The  6attle 
feed  on  their  long,  green  leaves,  with  avidity,  and  wade  in  after 


CPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


275 


them  as  far  as  they  dare  safely  venture      Tl,«„ 

together   that  ev/««»     »     '^'y  ^«nture.     1  hey  grow  up  so  close 

flomewhat  more  slenrl^r  ,„k-/  ^  common-sized  pin, 

rous.  in  proportion  to  th«  f  Tr       /  "^  generally  nume- 

cry.  and  a  reiterated  iukLkll  I  "  "  «°"'°"^'  """- 

Guinea-fowl     Any  IXl    "•.*''*'-«°">«W"8  like  that  of  . 

they  univereallv  „.r«    .if    ''''^'■-*"  "'•■en  the  tide  is  low, 
reel,  1^2™.       t        ""  """"«"""  '"■<"»'-™  «f 'he 

««.  arrival  "hlv  1  ,^J°"'  77  '  "'"S'^  '"'«"<'°'"-     On  .heir 
»»  the  seed    ll  Iv        ]/ 1"°  '"''  """'  f"  ""»  '^W".  >-« 

wugh,  after     T^r^       f  °?'"=''  ™  ""e"™'.  and  eagerfy 

-  ofrin^r^mr "  *""-  *- '"  -^  '- 
a.o:.xtredtatr:;rhr  r; "'" ''"'-  -^ « 

long.  Sickened  at  the  S  Zi  Z  ^  ''""^''  '^ 

deep  in  the  „„d.  AbonTlo  t:jr:°o  .'lf'''™r''"»  •"' 
.heya„terthe  reeds,  and  each  aZ  h  s  p™.  ^The  ^^'' "" "' 
"landing  in  the  bow.  ready  for  action  rt. 7    ,  »P"n»man 

»aat,  pushing  her  «eadi,/.Wn'^r°het el    Th"  p'^  '"™- 

..ead,  are  instantly  shot  down,  while  the  boatman,  keeping 


276 


FRANK    FORESTER'S   FIELD   SPORTS. 


hi«  eyo  on  the  spot  where  the  bird  fell,  directs  the  boatforwnrd, 
and  picks  the  bird  up,  while  the  gunner  is  loading.     It  is  hIho 
the  boatman's  business  to  keep  a  sharp  look-out,  and  give  the 
word  •  Mark,'  when  a  Rail  springs  on  either  side,  without  being 
observed  by  the  sportsman,  and  to  note  the  exact  spot  where  it 
falls,  until  he  has  picked  it  up ;   for  this  once  lost  sight  of,  owing 
to  the  sameness  in  the  appearance  of  the  reeds,  is  seldom  found 
again.     In  this  manner  the  boat  moves  steadily  through  and 
over  the  reeds,  the  birds  flushing  and  falling,  the  giinner  load- 
ing and  firing,  while  the  boatman  is  pushing  and  picking  up. 
The  sport  continues  an  hour  or  two  after  high '  water,  when 
the  shallowness  of  the  water,  and  the  strength  and  weight  of 
the  floating  reeds,  as  also  the  backwardness  of  the  game  to 
spring,  as  the  tide  decreases,  oblige  them  to  return.     Several 
boats  are  sometimes  within  a  short  distance  of  each  other,  and 
a  perpetual  cracking  of  musketry  prevails  above  the  whole 
reedy  shores  of  the  river.     In  these  excursions,  it  is  not  un- 
common for  an  active  and  expert  marksman  to  kill  ten  or  twelve 
dozen  in  a  tide.     They  are  usually  shot  singly,  though  I  have 
known  five  killed  at  one  discharge  of  a  double-barrelled  piece. 
These  instances,  however,  are  rare.      The  flight  of  these  birds 
among  the  reeds,  is  usually  low,  and  shelter  being  abundant,  is 
rarely  extended  to  more  than  fifty  or  one  hundred  yards.    When 
winged,  and  uninjured  in  their  legs,  they  swim  and  dive  with 
great  rapidity,  and  are  seldom  seen  to  rise  again.     I  have  seve- 
ral times,  on  such  occasions,  discovered  them  clinging  with  their 
feet  to  the  reeds  under  the  water,  and  at  other  times  skulking 
under  the  floating  reeds,  with  their  bills  just  above  the  surface ; 
sometimes,  when  wounded,  they  dive,  and  rising  under  the  gun- 
wale of  the  boat,  secrete  themselves  there,  moving  round  as  the 
boat  moves,  until  they  have  an  opportunity  of  escapino-  unno- 
ticed.    They  are  feeble  and  delicate  in  everything  except  the 
legs,  which  seem  to  possess  great  vigor  and  energy  ;  and  their 
bodies  being  so  remarkably  thin,  are  compressed  so  as  to  be  less 
than  an  inch  and  a  quarter  through  transversely,  they  are  ena- 
bled to  pass  between  the  reeds  like  rats.     When  seen,  thev  aio 


UPLAND  SHooxmo.  277 

almost  constantly  jetting  up  the  tail,  yet  though  their  flid.t 
auiong  the  reod»  «oe,„  feeble  and  fluttering,  every  Hportsla 
who  .  acquainted  with  the.  here,  must  hav'e  seen'theT  or 
«o„al ly  nH„.g  to  a  considerable  height,  stretching  out  their  le«s 
beh.nd  them,  and  flying  rapidly  across  the  riv!r.  wherT  t  i 
mo.,  than  a  mile  in  width.     Such  is  the  mode  of  iaTl  shoo  „e 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Phil  adelphia.  ^ 

•<  In  Virgiui,,,  particularly  along  the  shores  of  James  River 

at  Sr;  '7  71  ^''^  '''''  ^"  ''^  ^-^'  ^"'  —  usually  taZ 
at  night  in  the  following  manner :—  J         " 

"A  kind  of  iron  grate  is  fixed  on  the  top  of  a  stout  pole,  which 
.s  placed  like  a  mast  in  a  light  canoe,  and  filled  with'fire      T  e 
darker  the  night.  the  more  successful  is  the  sport.     The  person 
who  manages  the  canoe,  is  provided  with  a  light  padi.  ten  or 
twelve  feet  m  length  ;  and  about  an  hour  befoi^  high  watL    pro 
ceeds  through  a^ong  the  reeds,  which  lie  broken  ar^lZ^^lZ 
the  surface      The  whole  space,  for  a  considerable  way  round 
he  canoe,  is  completely  enlightened.-the  birds  start  with  ^ 
omshment.  and.  as  they  appear,  are  knocked  over  the  head  whh 

twent?:  .  ''r""  "'°  ^'^  ^^"^«-  '"  ^his  manner,  frl 
twenty  to  eighty  dozen  have  been  killed  by  three  negroes  in  the 
short  space  of  three  hours. 

rousirthrr'  """^"'  ^  V'''^^  ^^^"^'•'  ^^^^  -« -^^  ""'"e. 

whl  1  ^^°°"'  "'''  ^'*'"'''  ""  °"^  "^'•^'^^"^  frontier, 
wheie  another  species  of  reed,  of  which  they  are  equally  fond 

grows  in  shallows  in  great  abundance.     Gentlemen  who  have' 

tha  they  differ  in  nothing  from  those  they  have  usually  killed 
on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill ;  they  are  equally 
lat  and  exquisite  eating.  ^       J 

"  On  the  seacoast  of  New- Jersey,  where  these  are  not  to  be 
found  this  bird  is  altogether  unknown,  though  along  the 
marshes  of  Maurice  River,  and  other  tributary  streams  of  the 
Delaware,  and  where  the  reeds  abound,  the  Rail  are  sure  to  be 
found  also.     Most  of  them  leave  Pennsylvania  before  the  end  of 


278 


FKANK    FORESTERS    FIELD.  SPORTS. 


October,  and  the  Southori.  States  early  in  November,  thoujjli 
numbors  hnger  in  the  warm  soutiiom  murHheH  the  whole  winter. 
"A  very  worthy  gentloman—Mr.  Hunison— who  lives  in 
Kittiwan,  near  a  creek  of  that  name,  o..  the  borders  of  Jameii 
River,  informed  me,  in  burning  his  meadows  early  in  March, 
they  generally  raise  and  destroy  several  of  those  birds. 

"  That  the  great  body  of  these  Rail  winter  in  countries  be- 
yond  the  United  States,  is  rendered  highly  probable,  from  their 
being  so  frequently  met  with  at  sea,  between  our  shores  and 
the  West  India  Islands. 

"A  Captain  Douglas  informed  me,  that  on  his  voyage  from 
St.  Domingo  to  Philadelphia,  and  more  than  a  hundred  miles 
from  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware,  one  night  the  man  at  the 
helm  was  alarmed  by  a  sudden  crash  on  deck,  that  broke  the 
glass  in  the  binnacle,  and  put  out  the  light.  On  examining  into 
the  cause,  three  Rail  were  found  on  deck,  two  of  which  were 
killed  on  the  spot,  and  the  other  died  soon  after. 

"  The  late  Bishop  Madison,  President  of  William  and  Mary 
College,  Virginia,  assured  me  that  a  Mr.  Skipwith,  for  some 
time  our  Consul  in  Europe,  on  his  return  to  the  United  States 
when  upwards  of  three  hundred  miles  from  the  Capes  of  the 
Chesapeake,  several  Rail,  or  Soras,  I  think  five  or  six,  came 
on  board,  and  were  caught  by  the  people.  Mr.  Skipwith  being 
well  acquainted  with  the  bird,  assured  him  that  they  were  the 
very  same  with  those  usually  killed  on  James  River. 

"  I  have  received  like  assurances  from  several  other  gentle- 
men,  and  captains  of  vessels,  who  have  met  with  those  birds  be- 
tween the  main  land  and  the  islands,  so  as  to  leave  no  doubt  on 
my  mmd  as  to  the  fact.  For  why  should  it  be  considered  in- 
credible, that  a  bird  which  can  both  swim  and  dive  well,  and  at 
pleasure  fly  with  great  rapidity,  as  I  have  myself  frequently  wit- 
nessed, should  be  incapable  of  migrating,  like  so  many  others, 
over  extensive  tracts  of  land  or  sea  1  Inhabiting  as  they  do  the 
remote  regions  of  Hudson's  Bay,  where  it  is  impossible  they 
could  subsist  during  the  rigor  of  the  winter,  they  must  eithe, 
emigrate  from  there,  or  perish ;  and  as  the  same  places  in  Penu- 


Upland  biiootino. 


879 


Bylvania,  which  abound  with  thorn  in  October,  ar«  often  luitl 
niuler  ice  and  snow  during  tho  winter,  it  iH  uh  imi..m8il,le  that 
they  could  oxi8t  hero  in  that  inclement  season.  Heaven  has 
therefore,  given  them,  in  common  with  many  others,  cwtain 
pieHconco  of  these  circumstances,  and  ju.lgment,  as  well  as 
BUength  of  flight,  sutliciont  to  seek  more  genial  climate,  abound- 
ing with  tho  suitable  food. 

"  During  the  greater  part  of  tho  months  of  September  and 
October,  the  market  of  Philadelphia  is  abundantly  supplied  with 
Kiiil.  which  are  sold  from  hall'  a  dollar  to  a  dollar  per  dozen 
Soon  after  tho  20th  of  October,  at  which  time  our  first  smart 
frosts  generally  take  place,  these  birds  move  olY  to  the  South. 
In  Virgmia  they  usually  remain  until  the  first  week  in  Novem- 
ber. 

"  Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  received  from  Mr. 
George  Ord,  of  Philadelphia,  some  curious  particulars  relative 
to  this  bird,  which,  as  they  are  new,  and  come  from  a  gentle- 
man  of  respectability,  are  worthy  of  being  recorded,  and  merit 
further  investigation. 

"  '  My  personal  experience,'  says  Mr.  Ord,  '  has  made  mo  ac- 
quainted with  a  fact  in  the  history  of  the  Rail,  which,  perhaps, 
18  not  generally  known,-and  I  shall  as  briefly  as  possible  com- 
municate It  to  you.  Some  time  in  the  autumn  of  the  yeai  1809, 
as  I  was  walking  in  a  yard,  after  a  severe  shower  of  rain,  I  per-' 
ceived  the  feet  of  a  bird  projecting  from  a  spout.  I  pulled  it 
out,  and  discovered  it  to  be  a  Rail,  very  vigorous,  and  in  per- 
fect health.  The  bird  was  placed  in  a  small  room,  on  a  gun 
case,  and  I  was  amusing  myself  with  it,  when  in  the  act  of 
pointing  my  finger  at  it,  it  suddenly  sprang  forward,  apparently 
much  irritated,  fell  to  the  floor,  and  stretching  out  its  feet,  and 
bending  its  neck,  until  the  head  neariy  touched  the  back  be- 
came to  all  appearance  lifeless.  Thinking  the  fall  had  killed 
the  bird,  I  took  it  up,  and  began  to  lament  my  rashness,  in  pro- 
voking it.  In  a  few  minutes  it  again  breathed,  and  it  was  some 
fmie  before  it  perfectly  recovered  from  the  fit  into  which  it  now 
appeared  evident  it  had  fallen.     I  placed  the  Rail  in  a  room 


280 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SrORTS. 


wherem  oanary  Bird,  were  confined,  ai.d  resolved  that  on  ,„e 
succeeding  day.  I  would  endeavor  to  discover  whether  or  not 
the  passion  oC  anger  had  produced  the  fit.  I  entered  the  ro„m 
at  the  appointed  time,  and  approached  the  bird,  which  had  re- 
tired on  beholding  me,  in  sullen  humo;-,  to  a  comer.  On  point- 
ing my  finger  at  it,  its  feathers  were  immediately  ruffled  and 
m  an  instant  it  sprang  forward,  as  in  the  first  instance,  and  fell 
into  a  similar  fit.  The  following  day  the  experiment  was  re- 
peated,  with  like  effect. 

•"In  the  fall  of  1811,  as  I  was  shooting  among  the  reeds  I 
^.^rceived  a  Rail  rise  bnt  a  few  feet  before  my  batteau.  The 
bud  had  risen  about  a  yard,  when  it  became  entangled  in 
the  tops  of  a  small  bunch  of  reeds,  and  immediately  fell.  Its 
fc3t  and  neck  were  extended,  as  in  the  instances  above  men- 
tioned,  and  before  it  had  time  to  recover,  I  killed  it.  Some 
few  days  afterwards,  as  a  friend  and  I  were  sl,ooting  in  the 
same  place,  he  killed  a  Rail,  and  as  we  approached  the  spot  to 
pick  It  up,  another  was  perched  not  a  foot  off,  in  a  fit;  I  took 
up  the  latter  aixa  placed  it  in  the  crown  of  my  hat;  in  a  few 
moments  it  revived,  and  was  as  vigorous  as  ever. 

These  facts  go  to  prove  that  the  Rail  is  subject  to  gusts  of 
passion,  which  operate  . o  so  violent  a  degiee  as  to  produce  a 
disease  similar  in  its  effects  to  epilepsy.  I  leave  the  explana- 
tion ot  the  phenomena  to  tiiose  pathologists  who  are  competent 
and  willing  to  investigate  it.  It  may  be  worthy  to  remark  that 
Ihe  birds  affected  as  described,  were  all  females,  of  the  GaUi- 
nulu  Carolina,  or  common  Riil ' 

'•  The  Rail,  though  generally  reputed  a  simple  bird,  will 
sometimes  manifest  symptoms  of  considerable  intelligence.'  To 
those  acquainted  with  Rail  shooting,  it  is  ha-dly  necessary  to 
mention  that  the  tide  in  its  flux  is  considered  an  almost  indis- 
pensable auxiliary,  for  when  the  water  is  off  the  marsh,  the 
lubricity  of  the  mud,  the  height  and  compactness  of  the  reed, 
and  the  swiftness  of  foot  of  the  game  tend  to  weary  the  sports- 
man and  to  fmstrate  his  endeavors. 

'•  Even  should  he  succeed  in  a  tolerable  degrt3,  the  re\.-ard  ia 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


381 


not  commensurate  to  the  labor.  I  have  entered  the  marsh  in  a 
batteau  at  a  common  tide,  and  in  a  well-known  haunt,  have 
beheld  but  a  few  birds.  The  next  better  tide,  on  our  resoitinff 
to  the  same  spot,  I  perceived  abundance  of  game.  The 
fact  18,  the  Rail  dive  and  conceal  themselves  beneath  the  fallen 
reed,  merely  projecting  their  heads  above  the  surface  of  the 
water  for  air,  and  remain  in  that  situation  until  the  sportsman 
has  passed  them,  and  it  is  well  known  that  it  is  a  common  prac 
tice  wuh  wounded  Rail  to  dive  to  the  bottom,  and  holding  on  to 
some  vegetable  substance,  support  themselves  in  that  situation 
until  exhausted. 

"  During  such  times,  the  bird,  in  escaping  from  one  enemy  has 
often  to  encounter  with  another  not  less  formidable.     Eels  and 
cat-fish  sw™  in  every  direction  seeking  for  prey,  and  it  is  ten  to 
one  ,f  a  wounded  Rail  escape  them.   I  myself  have  beheld  a  larL^e 
eel  make  off  with  a  bird  that  I  had  shot,  before  I  had  time 
to  pick  It  up  ;  and  one  of  my  boys,  in  bobbing  for  eels,  caught 
one  with  a  whole  Rail  in  its  belly.     I  have  heard  it  observed 
that  on  the  mcrease  of  the  moon  the  Rail  improves  in  fatness, 
and  decreases  in  a  considerable  degree  with  that  planet.   Some- 
times  1  have  conceited  that  the  remark  was  just.    If  it  be  a 
jact  I  think  it  may  be  explained  on  the  supposition  that  the 
bird  IS  enabled  to  feed  at  night  as  well  as  by  day,  while  it  has 
the  benefit  of  the  moon,  and  with  less  interruption  than  at  other 
periods. 

"I  have  had  my  doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  classing  this 
ard  under  the  genus  RaUus.    Both  Latham  and  Pennant  call 
It  a  Gallinula.  and  when  one  considers  the  length  and  formation 
ot  Its  bill,  the  propriety  of  the  nomenclature  is  obvious. 

"As  the  article  was  commenced  by  our  printers  before  I  could 
make  up  my  mind  on  the  subject,  the  reader  is  requested  to 
consider  this  species  the  Gallh.ula  Carolina  of  Dr.  Latham  "_ 
Wilson's  American  Ornithologij. 

To  set  aside  the  possibility  of  continued  d.mbt  on  the  subject 
of  the  migration  of  the  Rail,  which  really  seems  to  be  so  per- 


282 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


fectly  a  settled  question,  as  to  render  it  impossible  that  any 
sane  man  in  America  should  persist  in  believing  that  this  bird 
burrows  and  lies  toipid  in  the  mud — I  have  myself,  however, 
met  scores  who  do  believe  so — I  shall  quote  Mr.  Audubon's 
personal  observations  as  to  the  migi-ations  of  this  bird,  which  he 
has  often  seen  with  his  own  eyes,  and  no  one,  who  has  read  his 
delightful  animal  biographies,  will  doubt  how  keen  those  eyes 
are,  and  how  accurate. 


"  This  bird,"  he  says,  "  which  I  think  might  have  been  named 
the  Pennsylvanian  or  Virginian  Rail,  enters  the  union  from 
the  shores  of  Mexico,  early  in  March,  when  many  are  seen  in 
the  markets  of  New  Orleans.  Some  reach  their  northern  desti- 
nation by  ascending  along  the  margin  of  our  western  streams, 
or  by  crossing  tlie  country  directly,  in  the  manner  of  the  Wood- 
cock ;  while  those  which  proceed  along  the  coast  shorten  their 
journey  as  much  as  possible  by  flying  across  the  headlands  of  the 
numerous  inlets  or  bays  of  our  southern  districts,  returning  or 
advancing  more  slowly,  according  to  the  state  of  the  weather. 
Thus,  those  which  cross  the  peninsula  of  Florida,  through  the 
marshes  and  lagoons  which  lead  to  the  head  waters  of  the  St, 
John's  River,  instead  of  travelling  round  the  shores  of  Georgia 
and  South  Carolina,  fly  directly  across  toward  Cape  Lookout. 
It  is  nevertheless  t.ue,  that  a  certain  number  of  these  birds 
follow  the  sinuosities  of  the  shores,  for  I  found  some  in  the 
markets  of  Charleston,  in  April,  that  had  been  killed  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood  of  that  city,  and  I  obtained  others  in 
various  parts ;  but  the  number  of  these  is  veiy  small  as  com- 
pared  with  those  that  cross  at  once.  When  their  passage  takes 
place,  f  ither  during  calm  weather,  or  with  a  favorable  wind, 
the  fortunate  travellers  puT'sue  tlieir  jouraey  by  entering  Pam- 
lico Sound,  and  following  the  inner  margins  of  the  outward 
banks  of  this  part  of  the  coast  until  thoy  reach  Cape  iHenry, 
Thence  some  ascend  the  Chesapeake,  while  others  make  for 
the  mouth  of  the  Delaware,  and  these,  perhaps,  again  meet  on 
the  borders  of  Lake  Ontario,  or  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


383 


after  which  they  soon  enter  those  portions  of  the  country  in 
which  they  breed,  and  spend  a  short  but  agreeable  season. 

"  Every  person   acquainted  with  the  general  movements  of 
birds,  either  during  the  spring,  when  they  pass  northward,  or 
the  autumnal  months,  when  they  are  on  their  way  to  milder 
chmes,  is  aware  that  at  the  foimer  period  their  anxiety  to  reach 
the  breeding  place  is  much  greater  than  that  which  they  feel  at 
any  other  period.     Thus,  in  its  movement  southward,  the  Sora, 
like  all  other  Rails,  when  returning  with  its  progeny,  which  are' 
yet   feeble,  and   unable  to   undergo   much   fatigue,   proceeds 
considerably  slower  than  in  spring;  hence  its  appearance  in 
autumn,  m  multitudes,  in  various  places,  where  it  is  enticed,  by 
an  abundance  of  food  and  comparative  security,  to  tany  for 
some  time  and  recruit  its  strength.     Thus  in  September  and 
part  of  October,  the  Sora  is  found  in  great  numbers  on  the 
borders  of  our  great  lakes,  feeding  on  wild  oats,  and  on  the 
reedy  margins  of  the  rivers  of  our  middle  districts.     Several 
natural  causes  prevent  birds  of  this  species  from  following  the 
seacoast  of  the  United  States  while  migrating,  either  in  spring  or 
m  autumn,  the  principal  of  which  is  the  absence  of  their  favor- 
ite  Zizania  marshes,  which  are  but  very  rarely  to  be  met  with 
to  the  east  of  the  State  of  New- York.     This  is  i)robably  the 
cause  of  the  great  rarity  of  this  species  in  Massachusetts,  while, 
80  far  as  I  know,  none  are  ever  found  to  the  eastward  of  that 
State.      These  observations  are  corroborated  by  those  of  my 
friend,  Thomas  McCuUoch,  of  Pictou,  who  never  met  with  one 
of  these  birds  during  many  years'  residence  in  that  part  of  Nova 
Scotia. 

"  Having  seen  flocks  of  Soras  winging  their  way  close  ove- 
the  watei-8  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  and  between  Cape  Florida  and 
the  main  shores  of  the  Carolinas,  in  the  month  of  April,  when 
they  were  moving  directly  toward  Cape  Lookout,  I  have  very 
little  doubt  that  many  return  in  the  same  track,  in  the  end  of 
October,  when  the  young,  well-fed  and  strengthened,  are  able 
to  follow  their  parents  on  wing,  even  across  that  wide  expanse 
of  water.     I  shall  now  dismiss  this  part  of  the  subject  by  add- 


Tin 


J.hm 


284 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


ing  in  confirmation  of  their  capability  of  protracted  flight,  that 
some  of  these  birds,  when  accidentally  separated  from  their 
flock,  have  supported  themselves  on  wing  until  they  have  met 
with  vessels  several  hundred  miles  from  land ;  and  facts  of  this 
kind  have  been  announced  by  persons  of  well-known  respec- 
tability. 

"  During  the  autumnal  months,  a  goodly  number  of  Soraa 
are  found  in  the  rice  fields  and  fresh  water  marshes  of  the 
Carolinas.  Sometimes,  also,  they  have  been  shot  in  salt  water 
marshes,  in  spring,  while  on  their  northward  migration.  At 
this  period  they  are  silent  until  forced  to  fly.  In  those  States, 
none  are  seen  during  summer,  very  few,  it  appears,  remain  in 
any  part  of  the  middle  districts.  My  friend,  John  Bachman, 
however,  was  shown  some  eggs  of  this  bird,  that  had  been 
found  in  the  meadows  below  Philadelphia ;  and  whilst  I  was 
on  a  shooting  expedition  for  Woodcock,  in  company  with  my 
friend,  Edward  Harris,  Esq.,  my  son  shot  some  young  birds, 
scarcely  fledged,  and  shortly  afterward,  an  adult  female.  John 
Bachman  met  with  a  nest  on  the  shores  of  the  Hudson,  and  I 
saw  two  in  the  marshes  of  Lake  Champla.m."—Auduhon'a 
American  Ornithology. 


I  have  judged  it  but  proper  to  extend  both  my  quotations  on 
the  habits,  and  my  own  observations  on  the  shooting  of  this 
bird,  to  some  length,  as  the  first  are  very  peculiar,  and  the  lat- 
ter  affords  a  sport,  which  though  I  think  it  for  my  own  part, 
rather  a  tame  amusement,  is  still  followed  with  much  eagerness 
and  zest  by  sportsmen,  especially  on  the  Delaware,  and  on  the 
great  Western  Lakes,  where  the  bird,  as  we  have  seen,  abounds. 

The  United  States  contain  many  other  species  of  Rail,  most 
of  which  are  at  times  shot  by  the  sportsman,  while  in  pursuit  ot 
one  kind  or  another  of  aquatic  fowl,  but  none  of  them  are  suffi- 
ciently abundant,  in  certain  spots  or  at  certain  seasons,  unless 
it  be  perhaps  the  bird  commonly  known  as  the  Mud-Hen,  to  be 
made  the  object  of  especial  pursuit. 


UPLAND   SHOOTIi\0. 


285 


This  bird  which  is,  properly, 

The  Clapper  Rail,  or  Salt  Water  Marsh  Hen,  Ral- 
Lus  Crepitans,  is  a  constant  resident  at  one  period  or  other 
of  the  year,  on  some  part  of  the  Atlantic  coasts  from  Long 
Island  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  is  a  large-sized  bird,  weighing 
11  to  12  oz.,  and  looking  much  larger  than  it  really  is.  They 
are  shot  in  the  bays  of  Long  Island,  and  still  more  abundantly 
m  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  much  as  the  Sora  Rail  is  on  the 
Delaware;  the  boats  are,  however,  in  this  sport,  if  it  can  be 
BO  called— for  the  birds  are  large,  clumsy,  slow-moving  and 
cannot  be  missed— propelled  by  oars  or  paddled,  not  by  the 
pole.  On  Long  Island  and  generally  in  the  Middle  States,  this 
bird  IS  called  the  Mud,  or  Meadow-Hen. 

The  other  species  commonly  met  with  by  the  sportsman  are 
The  Great  Red-Breasted  Rail,  or  Fresh  Water  Marsh 
Hen— Rallus  Eleoans— commonly  known   m  Pennsylvania 
and  New-Jersey  as  the  "  King  Rail." 

This  is  the  largest  and  by  far  the  handsomest  of  the  tribe-  its 
weight  is  about  11  to  13  oz.-its  length  20^  inches  by  an  alar 
extent  of  22. 

It  is  rarely  found  east  of  Pennsylvania,  although  I  have  occa- 
sionally  killed  it  in  New-Jersey.  It  is  a  constant  resident  of 
the  Southern  States. 

The  Virginia  Rail— Rallus  Virginianus.  This  bird 
greatly  resembles  the  last  species,  though  not  much  more  than 
half  Its  size.  It  is  properly  a  Southern  bird,  but  is  found  during 
the  autumn,  in  small  numbers  along  the  atlantic  coasts.  It  is 
killed  both  on  fresh  and  salt  water,  but  is  nowhere  exceedindy 
abundant.  °  ^ 

In  addition  to  these,  I  may  name  the  common  Coot  of  Araeri- 
ca,  and  the  common  Gallinule,  both  of  this  same  family  of 
Rallid^.  They  are  principally  Southern  birds,  though  strag- 
glers are  occasionally  found  in  the  Middle  and  Eastern  States 
They  are  of  little  wortli  for  the  spoit  which  they  afford,  and  stiU 
less  for  the  quality  of  their  flesL  'at  like  many  other  water 
birds  and  waders,  such  as  the  Bitterns.  Herons.  Egrets,  and  the 


286 


FRANK   FORESTER'S   FIELD   SPORTS. 


like,  are  usually  killed  by  the  sportsman,  if  encountered  in  pur- 
suit of  other  game,  though  never  made  the  object  of  especial 
chase. 

None  of  these,  however,  can  it  be  deemed  unspoitsmanlike 
or  snobbish  to  shoot,  while  in  the  field,  with  dogs,  as  it  is  to  kill 
Pigeons,  Meadow  Larks,  Thrushes,  or  the  like,  since  their  haunts 
and  habits  are  generally  in  some  sort  like  game-like,  and  dogs 
will,  for  the  most  part,  draw  on  them,  if  not  stand  them  dead. 

None  of  these,  however,  require  any  fuller  notice  than  the 
above,  and  hence  I  proceed  to  shooting  the  Sora  Rail  on  the 
Delaware. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


287 


RAIL    SHOOTING. 


ROM  the  middle  of  August,  until 
the  setting  in  of  wintry  frosts, 
the  pursuit  of  this  curious,  and  ex- 
cellent little  bird,  may  be  followed 
in  the  localities  which  he  fre- 
quents, by  those  who  care  for  the 
sport. 

It  is  not  by  any  means  compa- 
rable to  those  kinds  of  shooting, 
which  are  followed  with  dogs  in  the  field,  among  varied  scenery 
and  diverse  accidents  of  sport ;  nor  is  the  bird  very  sporting  in 
Its  habits,  nor  is  much  skill  required  to  shoot  him. 

He  is,  however,  delicious  to  eat;  he  literally  abounds  on  the 
reedy  mud-flats  of  those  rivers  which  he  affects ;  and  his  season 
18  one  at  which  there  is  little  or  no  other  occupation  for  the 
sportsman.  So  that,  between  the  epicurean  desire  for  his  flesh, 
the  absence  of  more  agreeable  and  exciting  sport,  and  the  very 
easiness  of  the  pursuit,  which,  to  young  hands  and  bad  shots,  is 
a  recommendation,  the  Rail  is  very  eageriy  pursued ;  and  dur- 
ing those  periods  of  the  tide,  which  permit  his  pursuit,  a  stran- 
ger might  well  believe,  during  the  Rail  season,  almost  anywhere 
on  the  Delaware,  sixty  miles  below,  or  thirty  above  Philadel- 
phia, that  the  outposts  of  two  armies  were  engaged  in  a  brisk 
skirmish,  so  incessant  is  the  rattle  of  small  arms. 

It  is  the  habit  of  this  little  bird  to  skulk  and  run  among  the 
reeds  and  water-oats  of  the  flats  which  he  inhabits;  and,  owiiig 
to  the  peculiar  form  of  his  long,  flat-sided,  wedge-like  body, 
with  the  legs  situated  far  behind,  and  the  wings  closely  com- 


288 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


pressed,  he  can  pass  with  such  ease  and  celerity  amone  the 
close  stalks  of  the  water-plants,  that  the  sharpest  dogs  cannot 
compel  him  to  take  wing  ;  and  so  thoroughly  is  he  aware  of  this 
advantage  which  he  possesses,  and  of  the  peril  he  runs  in  rising 
before  the  gun,  that  it  is  utterly  useless  to  attempt  beating  for 
him  with  dogs  on  foot,  or  to  think  of  walking,  or  kicking  him  up 
from  his  lurking  places,  when  the  tide  is  down. 

As  soon,  however,  as  it  has  risen  high  enough  to  allow  a  boat 
to  be  forced  through  the  partially  submerged,  partially  floating 
grass,  unable  to  run,  from  want  of  a  solid  substructure  on  which 
to  tread,  or  to  swim,  from  the  denseness  of  the  vegetation,  he 
has  no  choice  but  to  rise,  which  he  does  reluctantly,  and  not  until 
the  bows  of  the  boat  are  close  upon  him. 

His  flight  is  then  slow  and  heavy,  with  the  legs  hanging  down, 
and  the  wings  heavily  flapping,  and  it  is  rarely  protracted  to 
above  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  distance.  It  is  exceedingly  easy 
to  kill  him,  thereft)re  ;  so  much  so,  that  as  soon  as  he  mastered 
the  slight  difficulty  of  getting  accustomed  to  the  motion  of  the 
boat,  and  got  what  a  sailor  would  call  his  sea  legs  on  board,  the 
merest  tyro,  who  can  cover  a  bird  on  the  wing  in  the  slowest 
conceivable  motion,  and  pull  an  inexpert  trigger,  can  scarce  fail 
to  bag  many  of  these  birds  in  succession. 

The  boat  used  is  a  long,  light,  flat-bottomed,  shaip-built  skiff", 
— flat  to  draw  as  little  water  as  possible,  sharp  to  force  its  way 
through  the  heavy  tangled  water-plants.  In  the  bow  of  this  the 
shooter  stands  erect,  balancing  himself  in  the  ricketty  rocking 
ogg  shell,  for  it  is  little  more,  while  the  pole-man  stands  behind 
him,  propelling  the  vessel  with  his  long  punt-pole,  the  more  ra- 
pidly the  better,  through  the  weeds  and  grass. 

Tlie  pole-man's  duty  is  to  steer  and  urge  the  boat,  both  of 
which  are  done  by  the  same  instrument,  to  mark  the  dead  birds, 
and  collect  them,  and  to  get  the  advantage  of  all  other  boats  for 
his  shooter.  This  marking  is  by  no  means  an  easy  task  ;  as  the 
vast  expanse  of  level  green  herbage  affords  no  points,  or  marks, 
by  which  to  identify  the  spot  where  the  bird  has  fallen  ;  and,' 
moreover,  the  reeds  and  grass  are  so  thick,  and  so  similar  in 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


289 


color  to  the  plumage  of  the  Rail,  that  unless  it  is  marked  with 
the  most  perfect  accuracy,  literally  to  a  foot's  space,  it  is  almost 
useless  to  look  for  it.  So  many  boats,  moreover,  are  darting 
about  in  all  directions,  the  rival  pole-men  driving  their  skiffs 
with  all  attainable  velocity,  and  the  emulous  shooters  banging 
away  at  the  thick-rising  birds,  without  much  caring  whether 
some  other  sportsman  be  or  be  not  within  the  range,  and  in  the 
line  of  shot,  that  in  order  to  get  good  sport,  not  a  moment  must 
be  lost  in  bagging  the  dead  birds,— cripples  it  is  impossible  to 
bag,  so  quickly  do  they  dive,  and  so  cunningly  do  they  skulk,— 
and  that  at  best  it  is  a  matter  of  some  little  risk. 

Fortunately,  the  bird  is  so  easily  killed,  and  the  range  „f  his 
flight  is  so  small,  that  very  light  charges,  and  very  small  shot,  are 
m  U8(3.  With  the  recklessness  I  have  seen  displayed  in  this 
sport,  wen;  large  charges,  and  heavy  shot  used,  it  would  be  an 
affair  of  n,al  danger  to  shoot  at  Dullmau's  Flats,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Nusliaminy,  or  at  Perkins'  Flats,  or  Newbold's  Island— 
the  best  places  above  Philadelphia,  on  the  Delaware,  and  the 
only  places,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  flat,  of  an  acre  or  two 
iu  extent,  before  my  own  door  on  the  Passaic,  where  I  have 
ever  shot  Rail. 

The  great  onus  and  excellence  of  the  sport  depends,  as  it  will 
readily  be  seen,  on  the  pole-man,  or  pusher,  and  with  two 
equally  good  shots,  it  shall  make  a  difference  of  nearly  half  the 
bag,  which  has  the  better  assistant.  The  skill  at  markin-r  dead 
birds,  the  rapidity  of  bagging  them,  and  the  adroitness  at^push- 
ing,  to  which  some  of  these  men  attain,  is  truly  remarkable  • 
and  accustomed  to  the  society  o^  gentlemen,  and  provided  with 
a  good  stock  of  sporting  anecdote,  and  sporting  infoi-mation  they 
are  generally  very  conversable,  and  discreet  fellows,  witli  whom 
a  few  hours  can  be  spent,  not  only  without  tedium,  but  with 
some  profit. 

John  Horn,  of  Bristol,  in  Pennsylvania,  is  the  best  hand  of 
these  hardy  aquatics  I  have  ever  encountered,  and  many  a  good 
day's  sport  and  fun  have  I  enjoyed  in  his  company,  and  under 
his  guidance,  on  the  broad  and  tranquil  Delaware. 
VOL.  1.  19 


290 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


The  timo  for  hoginning  this  sport  depends  on  the  depth  of 
water  on  the  particular  flat  whereon  you  are  about  to  try  your 
fortune, — the  moment  the  rising  tide  will  permit  your  boat  to 
run  over  and  through  the  reeds,  you  must  tutnimeiice  ;  and  your 
sport  will  continue  so  long  as  the  birds  will  continue  to  rim;  be- 
fore you,  which  will  generally  be  until  about  the  fiiHt  (juarter  of 
the  ebb ;  but  as  the  water  falls,  the  Rail  become  less  aii<l  lesa 
willing  to  take  wing, — and  in  similar  positions  of  the  rising  and 
falling  tide,  you  shall  flush  twice  as  many  when  it  is  making. 

There  is  little  more  to  be  said,  on  the  head  o£  this  sport,  ex- 
cept to  give  a  few  hints  as  to  accoutrements  and  equipage,  on 
which,  perhaps,  next  to  the  merits  of  your  pole-man,  the  cele- 
rity of  your  shooting,  and  amount  of  your  bag,  will  depend. 

The  best  position,  as  I  have  obsei-ved,  for  the  shooter,  is  to 
stand, — and  the  best  way  to  do  this  in  the  tottering  and  fragile 
skiffs,  is  to  plant  the  feet  firmly  a  little  way  apart,  with  the  left 
somewhat  advanced ;  not  to  brace  your  legs,  or  stiffen  your 
knees,  but  rather  to  let  the  latter  be  a  little  bent,  and  to  humor 
the  motion  of  the  boat,  by  swaying  your  body  slightly  in  accord- 
ance  with  it 

It  does  not  much  matter,  however,  except  so  far  as  you  dread 
a  ducking,  reader  mine,  whether  you  chance  to  get  overbf)ard, 
or  no,  for  the  sport  is  pursued,  invariably,  in  the  shallowest  of 
water,  and  drowning  is  out  of  the  question,  in  the  worst  event. 

As  the  weather  is  generally  wann,  a  light  shooting-jacke*, 
and  straw  hat,  are  as  appropriate  a  dress  as  any.  Your  shortept 
and  your  lightest  gun,  is  the  best  tool  for  the  sport  ;  but  a  largish 
landing-net,  on  a  long,  light  pole,  will  be  found  a  very  conve- 
nient appendage,  and  will  save  your  pole-man  much  time  in 
bringing  your  dead  birds  to  bag. 

Next,  as  regards  loading,  to  do  which  very  quickly — at  all 
times  a  great  point,  is  here  a  sine  qud  non  to  good  sport — use  no 
shot-bag,  and  put  the  charger  of  your  powder-horn  down  to  its 
minimum  of  contents.  Half  the  ordinary  charge  of  powder,  and 
three-quarters  of  an  ounce  of  No.  9  shot,  is  an  ample  charge 
for  Rail.     But  if  you  are  looking  out  for  flock  shooting  at  Reed- 


tTPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


891 


birds  at  the  same  time,  as  is  usual,  it  is  well  to  carry  a  second 
heavier  gun,  with  an  ordinary  load  of  No.  8.  Sometimes  Teal, 
or  otlier  wild  duck,  come  across  you,  especially  while  going  up 
or  down  the  river  to  your  ground,  or  returning  from  it;  and  for 
the  chance  of  these,  it  in  well  to  reserve  a  barrel,  if  not  a  gun, 
loaded  with  Eh^'s  cartridges  of  No.  3  or  4. 

For  greater  convenience  of  loading,  as  you  are  always  sta- 
tionary in  one  place,  and  have  abundant  space  for  conveniences, 
you  will  find  it  well  to  have  a  square  wooden  box,  with  two 
compartments,  one  capable  of  containing  eight  or  ten  pounds  of 
shot,  and  the  other  a  quantum  suff.  of  wadding  ;  a  small  tin  scoop 
of  the  capacity  named  above,  three-quarters  of  an  ounce,  lying 
on  the  shot,  will  save  much  trouble,  and  half  the  time  in  load- 
ing. This  box,  and  your  powder-horn,  will  lie  on  the  bench  or 
thwart  before  you,— your  copper  caps  you  will  keep  in  your 
waistcoat-pocket;  and  by  the  precaution  of  being  thus  provided 
aforehand,  you  will  get  three  shots  for  two  with  a  rival,  who 
lugs  his  flask  out  of  his  pocket,  and  charges  with  a  belt  or  pouch 
after  every  shot. 

No  farther  rules  are  needed,  except  the  old  one,  which  can- 
not be  too  often  repeated,— take  your  time,  and  be  deliberate. 
Nay  !  with  the  Rail  you  can  afford  to  be  slow,  for  he  shall  rise 
within  ten  feet  of  you,  ninety-nine  times  of  a  hundred,  and  you 
shall  miss  him  only  by  getting  flurried,  or  by  tumbling  over- 
board. 

For  the  rest,  though  it  really  scarce  deserves  to  be  rated  as  a 
sport,  or  honored  with  a  place  amon?  tlie  nobler  kinds  of  wood- 
craft.  Rail  shooting  is  a  pretty  pastime  enough  ;  and  when  birds 
are  abundant,  and  rise  well,  the  rapid  succession  of  shots,  and 
the  necessary  rapidity  of  motion,  creates  an  excitement,  to  which 
is  often  added  the  emulation  of  surpassing  rival  boats  and  gun- 
ners,—to  which  may  again  be  superadded  the  stimulating  ap- 
prehension  of  being  peppered  soundly  by  a  stray  charge  of 
mustard-seed,  together  with  the  agveeable  variations  of  vitupe- 
ration  and  recrimination,  to  which  the  said  peppering  may  be 
expected  to  give  rise. 


i^ 


a- 


292 


FilANK    fOHKSTEIt's    KIKLD    Sl'OKTS. 


Tlie  Rail  is,  as  I  observed  before,  capital  eating.  Ho  is  to  bo 
cooked  and  served  exactly  as  the  Snipe,  with  no  sauce  or  condi- 
ment  whatever,  but  his  own  gravy  caught  up.,n  a  slice  of  crinp 
buttered  toast,  and  a  sprinkle  of  salt.  Like  all  wator-birdH,  ho 
18  to  be  eaten  fresh,  the  sooner  after  killing  the  better  I  Twenty- 
four  hours  dead,  ho  is  not  only  ancient,  but  fish-like.  Red  wine 
is  the  liquor  wherein  he  should  bo  laid  at  rest  within  the  inner 
man,  as  unquiet  ghosts  in  a  red  sea !  Peace  to  him  !  He  shall 
sit  lightly  on  your  stomach,  even  if  partaken  at  a  rere  supper. 

A  lew  words,  heieufter,  concerning  wild  fowl  shooting  in 
upland  brooks,  or  stalking  them  (.n  inland  lakes,'  or  pools,  and 
I  have  finished  my  task,  in  so  much  Jis  relates  to  Upland  shooting. 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


803 


nucK  snooTiNcj,  on  inland  waters. 


N    .he    Eiistem   and    Midland 
States,  unless  on  the  borders  of 
the  great  lakes,  this  sport  of  late 
years  can  hardly  be  said  to  exist 
at  all.     The  birds  are  becominij 
rare  and  wild,  and,  although  still 
shot  in  sufficient  numbers  by  the 
local  gunners,  on  the  streams  of 
New-Jersey,  to  supply  the  demand  of  the  markets,  they  are  not 
found  numerous  enough  to  justify  the  pursuit  of  the  sportsman. 
Fonnerly  on  the  drowned  lands  of  Orange  county,  on  the 
meadows  of  Chatham  and  Pine  Brook,  on  the  Passaic  and  its 
tributaries,  before  the  modern  system  of  draining  and  embank- 
ing, hundreds,  nay  !  thousands  of  acres  were  annually  covered 
with  shallow  water,  at  the  breaking  up  of  winter,  and  the  inun- 
date<l  flats  were  literally  blackened  with  all  the  varieties  of 
Duck  which  I  have  heretofore  enumerated,  affording  rare  spoil 
to  the  gunner,  and  alluring  gentlemen  from  the  larger  cities  to 
follo^v  them  wirh  the  canoe  ;  in  a  day's  paddling  of  which,  amonir 
the  inundated  groves,  and  over  the  floated  meadows,  it  was  no 
unusual  event,  nor  regarded  in  any  wise  as  extraordinary  good 
fortune,  to  kill  a  hundred  fowl  and  upward  of  the  different  va- 
rieties, all  of  which,  however,  are  alike  in  one  respect,  that  they 
are  all  delicious  eating.     I  have  myself  been  in  the  habit  of  con- 
sidering the  Summer  Duck  as  the  most  delicate  and  succulent 


i 


' «  '1 


U 


291 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


food  of  the  inland,  as  distinguished  frnm  the  ocean  Ducks ;  hut 
this  is,  I  believe,  owing  greatly,  if  not  entirely,  to  its  being  the 
best  fed  of  its  genus  in  the  regions  v/herein  T  have  been  wont 
to  eat  it ;  for  I  understand  that  on  the  greai  lak^s,  and  in  the 
Western  country  generally,  the  Blue-winged  Teal  is  regarded 
as  its  superior  in  epicurean  qualifications. 

All  that  kind  of  shooting  is  now  at  an  end  in  this  district  of 
country ;    and  although  they  still  abound  on  the  great  lakes, 
along  the  Canada  frontier,  and  eastward  in  the  British  pro- 
vinces, the  vast  extent  of  those  inland  seas  which  they  there  fra- 
quent,  renders  it  impossible,  or  at  least  so  difficult  as  to  become 
irksome,  to  take  them,  except  by  lying  at  ambush  on  points  over 
which  they  fly,  and  on  the  woody  margins  of  the  forest  streams 
and  inlets,  which  thc^   frequent  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  and 
roosting.     In  such  localities,  where  streams,  'lobouching  into 
the  great  lakes,  flow  through  submerged  and  swampy  wood- 
lands, the  Ducks  of  all  kinds  are  wont  to  fly  regularly  land- 
ward, in  large  plumps,  or  small  scattered  parties,  for  an  hour  or 
two  preceding  sundown, — and  a  good  shot  well  concealed  in 
such  a  place,  with  a  good  double-gun,  loaded  with  No,  4  up  to 
BB,  as  may  be  the  nature  of  his  ground,  and  the  species  of  his 
game,  will  frequently  return  from  a  single  evening's  expedition, 
loaded  with  twenty  or  thirty  couple  of  wild-fow). 

Foi  this  sport,  however,  little  or  no  advice  is  needed, — a  good 
covert,  a  heavy  gun,  and  a  sufficient  charge,  are  all  that  can  be 
deemed  requisite  to  success.     The  sport  may,  however,  be  ren- 
dered both  more  rapid  and  more  exciting,  by  the  introduction 
of  the  largo  Water  Spaniel,  well  broken  to  fetch,  to  aid  as   a 
retriever.     Every  true  sportsman  knows  how  much  zest  and 
enjoyment  is  added  to  every  kind  of  field  sports,  by  the  adapta- 
tion to  it,  and  the  observ'ation  during  its  continuance,  of  the 
instinct  and  sagacity  of  trained  animals ;  and  that  of  the  water 
retriever  is  inferior  to  none.     He  must  be  trained  to  absolute 
muteness,  and  the  most  implicit  obedience  ;  he  must  never  stir 
from  the  spot  in  which  he  is  ordered  by  a  quiet  gesture  of  his 
master's  hand  to  crouch  close — nay !  he  must  not  prick  his  ear, 


T7FLAND   SHOOTING. 


295 


or  wag  his  tail,  lest  the  quick  eye  of  the  watchful  Duck,  or  their 
almoJt  infallible  sense  of  hearing,  detect  either  by  sound  or 
sight  the  impatient  movement.  Once  ordered  to  recover  the 
dead,  or,  what  is  worse,  the  cripples,  neither  the  cold  of 
the  freezing  lake,  nor  the  rough  billows  of  the  stormy  frith, 
must  deter  him.  In  his  perfection  he  is,  and  needs  must  be,  the 
most  intelligent,  and  so  far  as  endurance  goes,  the  bravest  of 
dogs  ;  and  so  far  as  the  fowler's  particular  sport  unquestionably 
lacks  that  variety  and  excitement,  both  of  incident  and  pursuit, 
which  gives  the  great  charm  to  every  kind  of  shooting  or  hunt- 
ing, it  will  certainly  be  well  to  add  to  it  the  increased  pleasure 
afforded  by  the  use  of  the  retriever. 

I  used  to  suppose  that  the  best  species  of  dog  for  the  Upland 
retriever,  is  the  large  Water  Spaniel,  as,  undoubtedly,  for  sea- 
fowl  shooting  the  small,  sharpish-eared,  St,  John's  Newfound- 
land dog  is  preferable  to  all  other  races.  In  a  work  which  has 
lately  come  before  mo,  however,  of  which  I  think  veiy  highly, 
I  find  the  following  observations,  the  correctness  of  which  I  be- 
lieve to  be  indisputable ;  and  I  little  doubt  that  the  sort  of  dog 
here  described,  would  be  of  general  utility  to  the  spoitsman. 
The  book  to  which  I  allude  is  '•  The  Moor  and  the  Loch,"  by 
Colquhoun,  of  Luss,  who,  in  the  sphere  of  wild  sports,  to  which 
he  has  paid  attention,  is  not,  I  think,  inferior  to  Col.  Hawker, 
when  mounted  on  his  hobby  of  British  sea-fowling. 

From  this  book,  while  on  the  present  topic,  I  shall  again 
quote ;  and,  without  farther  apology  or  explanation,  proceed  to 
extract  his  views  as  to  the  dog  most  fitting  as  the  Duck-shooter's 
assistant. 

"  Next  in  importance  to  the  gun,"  says  Mr.  Colquhoun,  "  is 
a  proper  retriever.  The  Newfoundland  is  not  quite  the  thinf : 
first,  his  black  color  is  against  him" — white,  of  course,  is  out  of 
the  question — "  brown  is  much  to  be  preferred ;  then,  I  shoiild 
wish  my  dog  occasionally  to  assist  me  in  thia  inland  shooting, 
by  beating  rushes,  or  thick  cover,  up  creeks,  where  you  may 
often  plant  yourself  in  an  open  situation  for  a  shot,  and  your  dog 
put  up  the  fowl,  which  are  almost  certain  to  fly  down  past  you. 


■  m 

mm 

'  i 


296 


FRANK   forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


If  you  accustomed  a  Newfoundland  dog  to  this,  he  might,  fr„m 
his  strength  and  vivacity,  learn  the  trick  of  breaking  away  when 
you  did  not  wish  him.     The  best  and  most  efficient  kind  of 
d6g  for  this  work,  is  a  cross  between  a  water-dog  and  large 
terrier ;  the  terrier  gives  him  nose,  the  water  dog  coolness  and 
steadiness.     I   should  say,  that  before  you  can   procure  one 
which,  upon  trial,  may  prove  worth  the  gieat  trouble  of  tho- 
roughly training,  you  may  have  to  destroy  half-a-dozen.     You 
should  begin  your  training  when  the  dog  is  very  young,  and  if 
you  find  out  he  is  not  turning  out  as  you  wish,  seal  his  fate  at 
once.     The  dog  you  want  must  be  as  mute  as  a-  badger,  and 
cunning  as  a  fox.     He  must  be  of  a  most  docile  and  biddable 
disposition— the  generality  of  this  breed  are  so.     They  are  also 
slow  and  heavy  in  their  movements,  and  phlegmatic  in  their 
temper— great  requisites;  but  when  fowl  are  to  be  secured, 
you  will  find  no  want  either  of  will  or  activity,  on  land  or  water."' 
Our  Highland  sportsman  then  proceeds,  in  allusion  to  the  sub- 
ject of  a  wood-cut  illustrating  his  work,  which  he  states  to  be 
the  best  he  ever  saw,  "  he  never  gives  a  whimper,  if  ever  so 
keen,  and  obeys  eveiy  signal  I  make  with  my  hand.     He  will 
watch  my  motions  at  a  distance,  when  crawling  after  wild-fowl, 
ready  to  inish  forward  the  moment  I  have  fired;  and  never  in 
one  instance  has  he  spoiled  my  shot.     I  may  mention  a  proof 
of  his  sagacity.     Having  a  couple  of  long  shots  across  a  pretty 
broad  stream,  I  stopped  a  Mallard  with  each  banel,  but  both 
were  only  wounded.     I  sent  him  across  for  the  birds ;  he  at- 
tempted at  fii-st  to  bring  them  both,  but  one  always  struggled 
out  „f  his  mouth;  he  then  laid  down  one,  intending  to  bring  the 
other;  but  whenever  he  attempted  to  cross  to  me,  the  bird  left 
fluttered  into  the  water ;  he  immediately  returned  again,  laid 
down  the  first  on  the  shore,  and  recovered  the  other;  the  first 
now  fluttered  away,  but  he  instantly  secured  it,  and  standing 
over  them  both,  seemed  to  cogitate  for  a  moment ;  then,  although 
on  any  other  occasion  he  never  rufiles  a  feather,  he  deliberately 
killed  one,  brought  over  the  other,  and  then  returned  for  the 
dead  bird." 


ITPLAND   SHOOTING. 


897 


After  proceeding  to  give  8ome  further  information  with  re- 
8r>ect  to  accoutrements,  among  others  of  which  he  expatiates  on 
the  absolute  necessity  of  a  small  pocket  telescope  as  part  of  the 
wild-fowl  shooter's  equipage,  he  gives   an  account  in  exten^o 
of  the  best  method  to  be  adopted  for  getting  within  shot  of  wild- 
to;vl  when  seen  feeding  on,  or  within  shot,  of  the  shores  of  an 
inland  loch  or  pond.     These,  as  they  are  of  the  utmost  value 
and  interest  in  themselves,  as  there  are  thousands  of  localities 
exactly  such  as  he  describes,  in  every  region  of  the  United 
estates,  from  the  rock-girdle^,  pine-embosomed  lakelets  of  Maine 
and  the  Eastern  States,  to  the  limestone  pools  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nian  Alleghanies,  to  the  limpid  basins  set  in  the  oak  openings 
of  Michigan  and  Illinois,  to  the  gleaming  waters  that  lie  unshel- 
tered from  the  sun's  brightest  beams  in  the  centre  of  boundless 
prairies,  all  of  which,  in  their  proper  seasons  are  absolutely 
ahve  with  wild-fowl  of  every  description,  and  as  to  all  of  these 
my  author's  views  are  distinctly  and  directly  applicable-I  shall 
extract  without  alteration  or  abridgment;    obsei-ving   only    in 
addition  to  what  I  have  already  stated,  that  the  species  of  fowl 
to  which  he  haa  reference,  are  nearly  in  all  respects  identical 
with  our  own. 

"  Having  now  equipped  our  wild-fowl  shooter,  we  will  "  he 
says,  «  again  bring  him  to  the  shore.     His  fii-st  object  should  be 
to  see  his  game  without  being  seen  himself,  even  if  they  are  at 
too  great  a  distance  to  show  signs  of  alarm.     To  effect  this  he 
must  creep  cautiously  forward  to  the  first  point  that  will  com- 
mand a  view  of  the  shore  for  some  distance  ;  then,  takin-  out 
his  glass,  he  must  reconnoitre  it  by  inches,  noticing  overy  tuft 
of  grass  or  stone,  to  which  wild-fowl  asleep  often  bear  so  close 
a  resemblance  that,  except  to  a  very  quick  eye,  assisted  by  a 
glass,  the  difference  is  not  perceptible.      If  the  loch  be  well 
frequented,  he  will  most  likely  first  discover  a  flock  of  divers 
but  must  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  pocket  his  glass,  until  he  Las 
thoroun^hly  inspected  the  shore,  in  case  some  more  desirable 
fowl  may  be  feeding  or  asleep  upon  it.     I  will  suppose  that  he 
seen  some  objects  that  rrmy  be  wild-fowl.     Let  him  then  imme- 


Ml 


'  <M>fc 


1 1 


298 


FRANIt   FORESTEK  S    FIELD   SPORTS. 


diately  direct  his  glass  to  the  very  margin  of  the  loch,  to  see  if 
anything  is  moving  there ;  should  he  find  it  so,  he  may  conclude 
that  it  is  a  flock  of  either  Ducks,*  Widgeon,t  or  Teal ;  those 
first  perceived  resting  on  the  shore,  and  the  others  feeding  at 
the  water's  edge,  of  cowrae  not  nearly  so  conspicuous.f  If  there 
is  no  motion  at  the  margin  of  the  loch,  he  must  keep  his  glnss 
fixed,  and  narrowly  watch  for  some  time,  when,  if  what  arrest- 
ed  his  attention  be  wild-fowl  asleep,  they  will,  in  all  probability, 
betray  themselves  by  ra'sing  a  head  or  flapping  a  wing. 

"  He  must  now  take  one  or  two  large  marks,  that  he  will  be 
sure  to  know  again ;  and  also  another,  about  two"  or  three  hun- 
dred yards,  immediately  above,  farther  inland.  Having  done 
this,  let  him  take  a  very  wide  circle  and  come  round  upon  bis 
inland  mark.  He  must  now  walk  as  if  treading  upon  glass  : 
the  least  rustle  of  a  bough,  or  crack  of  a  piece  of  rotten  wood 
under  his  feet,  may  spoil  all,  especially  if  the  weather  be  calm. 
Having  got  to  about  one  hundred  yards  from  where  he  supjio- 
ses  the  birds  to  be,  he  will  tell  his  retriever  to  lie  down ;  the 
dog,  if  well  trained,  will  at  once  do  so,  and  never  move.  His 
master  will  then  crawl  forward,  until  he  gets  the  advantage  of  a 
bush  or  tufl;  of  reeds,  and  then  raise  his  head  by  inches  to  look 
through  it  for  his  other  marks.  Having  seen  them,  he  has, got 
an  idea  where  the  birds  are,  and  will,  with  the  utmost  caution, 


*  When  the  word  "  Duck"  is  used  in  English  works  without  qualification,  the 
Mallard  and  Duck  known,  in  this  country  generally,  as  the  "  Green-head,"  are 
intended. 

t  The  English  Widgeon  differs  essentially  from  the  American  bird,  but  like 
it,  is  rather  a  shore  bird  than  an  inland  fowl,  tliough  it  is  often  shot  up  the 
country. 

t "  Duck-shooting  on  rivers  and  streams  is  generally  unsatisfactory,  there  are 
so  many  turnings  and  windings  v.hich  prevent  yon  from  seeing  the  fowl  until 
they  are  close  at  hand,  also  so  many  tiny  bays  and  creeks,  where  they  conceal 
themselves  beyond  the  possibility  of  detection,  until  the  whirr  of  their  wings  and 
the  croak  of  the  Mallard  betray  their  hiding-place.  Unless  the  river  be  large 
and  broad,  even  the  most  expert  wild-fowl  shooter  must  expect  few  heavy 
sitting  shots,  and  content  himself  with  the  greater  number  being  distant  flying 

OUt'8." 


TTPtAND   SHOOTING.  gQO 

manner,  and  look  fn^  .  7  ^  ^'''"^  cautious 

order  that  hi,  ^„  '  . '?  "^"  ''''''"""S  '"<'''  »  '""e.  m 

wre,,  arj;?::Shr;:  Xotr :^^    --- 

at  h  s  selecter]  viVn'r^o      oi.     i,  ,        ^      '  ^*'*®  ^"'"^  aim 

opening  to  ta  tCh  ,!       f  he  >.„f„„„„ately  „„,  fi„a  „ 

imperiptible  d    "2;  .":  °*"  '"'"■'"'•''  '»  "^  »'">« 

and  close  "otbuTn    "■'"':.''■' S""  •»  .ha  right  of  the  buah, 

ovLar;i:;;t:\t2;r;rer:r  ^Ha^^^^^^^ 
«..:  Jer  .i;:s.  to"^:::!:!  rr:;  rs  ^°- 

cnppK  y„„  win  re.|„a<I,  and  taking  Lut  vourTJ  ZIT' 
*  The  divers  most  common  to  m  are  thn  Rnffi.!  k.  j  j  rx    , 


300 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


"  Another  invariable  rule  in  crawling  upon  Ducks  is  always, 
if  possible,  to  get  to  the  leeward  of  them  ;*  for  although  1  am 
firmly  of  opinion  that  they  do  not  wind  you  like  deer,  as  some 
suppose,  yet  their  hearing  is  most  acute.  I  have  seen  instances 
of  this  that  I  could  hardly  othei-wise  have  credited.  One  day  I 
got  within  about  sixty  yards  of  three  Ducks  asleep  upon  the 
shore ;  the  wind  was  blowing  very  strong,  direct  frf)m  me  to 
them,  a  thick  hedge  forming  my  ambuscade.  The  ground  was 
quite  bare  beyond  this  hedge,  so  I  was  obliged  to  take  the  dis- 
tant shot  through  it :  in  making  the  attempt,  I  rustled  one  of 
the  twigs — up  went  three  heads  to  the  full  stretch,  but  when  I 
had  remained  quiet  for  about  five  minutes,  they  again  placed 
their  bills  under  their  wings ;  upon  a  second  trial,  the  slight 
noise  was  unfortunately  repeated  :  again  the  birds  raised  their 
heads  ;  but  this  time  they  were  much  longer  upon  the  stretch, 
and  seemed  more  imeasy.  Nothing  now  remained  but  to  try 
again ;  my  utmost  caution,  however,  was  unavailing,  the  birds 
rose  like  rockets,  I  never  hesitate  concealing  myself  to  wind- 
ward of  the  spot,  where  I  expect  Ducks  to  pitch,  feeling  confi- 
dent that,  unless  I  move,  they  will  not  find  me  out.  I  have 
often  had  them  swimming  within  twenty-five  yards  of  me,  when 


*  "  If  you  have  also  a  bright  sun  at  your  back,  and  in  their  eyes,  your  advan- 
tage is  great ;  but  should  the  sun  and  wind  favor  opposite  directions,  let  the 
nature  of  the  ground  decide  your  advance. 

«'  I  was  last  winter  shooting  wild-fowl  with  a  gamekeeper  who  firmly  held  the 
common  notion  of  their  keen  noses.  We  saw  a  flock  of  about  twenty  pitched 
upon  a  long  point,  and  no  possibility  of  approaching  them  except  directly  to 
windward.  •'  Now,  sir,"  says  the  keeper,  "  if  you'll  stalk  these  Ducks  so  as  to 
get  a  good  shot,  I'll  never  care  for  their  noses  again !"  They  had  the  full 
benefit  of  the  wind  as  it  blew  pretty  strong,  but  there  was  some  soft  snow  on 
the  ground,  which  I  knew  would  prevent  their  hearing ;  so  I  took  him  at  his 
word,  killed  three  with  my  first  barrel,  and  had  they  not  been  intercepted  by 
the  trees  and  bushes,  would  have  knocked  down  at  least  one  more  with  my 
second.  The  keeper  has  said  ever  since  that  their  noses  are  not  worth  a  straw  : 
my  decided  advice,  however,  is  not  to  stalk  wild-fowl  to  windward,  if  it  can  he 
avoided ;  for  should  the  snow  be  at  all  crisp  with  frost,  or  if  there  are  many 
twigs  and  bushes  to  crawl  through,  their  noses  become  accte  enough  ! ! !" 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


301 


I  was  waiting  for  three  or  four  in  line,  the  wind  blowing  direct 
from  me  to  them,  without  perceiving  by  any  signs  their  con- 
sciousness of  an  enemy's  vicinity* 

"  When  the  weather  is  very  hard,  and  Ducks  are  driven  to 
the  springy  drains,  a  simple  way  of  getting  fair  shots,  but  seldom 
practised,  is,  to  make  your  man  keep  close  to  the  drain,  and 
take  your  own  place  fifteen  yards  from  it,  and  about  forty  in 
advance  of  him.     The  Ducks  will  then  rise  nearly  opposite  to 
you.     To  walk  along  the  drain  is  not  a  very  good  plan,  as  they 
will  generally  rise  either  out  of  distance  or  very  long  shots  • 
and,  if  you  keep  a  little  way  off,  they  may  not  rise  at  allf 
When  the  loch  is  low,  the  sportsman  may  often  get  a  capital 
shot  at  Ducks,  the  first  warm  sunny  days  in  March,^  as  they 
collect  on  the  grassy  places  at  the  margin  to  feed  upon  the 
insects  brought  into  life  by  the  genial  heat. 

"  But  to  return  to  our  wild-fowl  shooter,  whom  we  left  glass 
in  hand  looking  out  for  divers.  He  sees  a  couple  plying  their 
vocation  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  from  the  shore,  about  half  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  he  stands.     He  selects  his  vantage 

•«  Perhaps  the  sportsman  may  ask  what  it  signifies  whether  wiid-fowl  are 
aware  of  your  approach  by  hearing  or  winding?  My  answer  is,  that  although 
It  IS  of  httle  consequence  when  crawling  upon  Ducks,  yet  when  lying  concealed, 
expecting  them  to  pitch,  it  is  a  considerable  advantage  to  know  that  you  will 
not  be  detected  by  their  sense  of  smell ;  otherwise  the  best  refuge  for  a  shot 
must  often  be  abandoned  for  a  much  worse." 

tThis  plan  will  be  found  to  answer  admirably  in  this  country,  not  when  the 
weather  is  very  hard,  at  which  times  the  drains  and  small  streanw  are  frozen 
hard,  but  at  all  seasons  when  wild-fowl  of  any  kind  are  marked  down  into  any 
brook,  stream  or  water-course  whatever.  If  the  stream  be  very  tortuous,  the 
shooter  should  walk  parallel  to  it,  just  far  enough  distant  not  to  strike  any  of  its 
courses,  but  keeping  as  nearly  as  possible  a  perfectly  direct  course.  The  beater 
should  follow  every  curve  accurately.  I  have  have  had  sport  thus  with  Wood- 
duck,  HI  many  districts  of  the  United  States  ;  and  once-the  best  day's  inland 
fowl-shooting,  I  ever  had-killed  sixteen  young  birds,  and  two  fine  Drakes  in  a 
single  morning. 

tFor  March  we  must  substitute,  as  regards  American  shooting,  the  corres- 
ponding  season,  according  to  the  latitude.  The  period  he  means  is  the  lirst 
bieaking  up  of  winter,  and  the  commencement  of  mild  weather. 


1 


302 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


f- 


ground  as  near  as  possible,  for  a  last  look  before  commencinjr 
his  attack.  Having  gained  this,  he  makes  his  dog  lie  down,  and 
peeps  cautiously  until  he  sees  the  birds — waits  till  they  both 
dive  together,  then  rushing  forward  whilst  they  are  under 
water,  again  conceals  himself,  expecting  their  I'e-appearance. 
The  great  difficulty  is  always  to  keep  in  view  the  exact  spot 
where  the  birds  come  up  :  once  lose  sight  of  it,  your  progress 
is  stopped,  and,  in  recovering  your  advantage,  the  birds  are 
almost  certain  to  see  you  and  fly.  When  within  one  race  of 
the  divers,  cock  both  ban-els,  and  as  soon  as  they  together  disap- 
pear, rush  to  the  nearest  point  on  the  shore  for  a  shot.  If  the 
day  be  calm,  the  rising  bubbles  will  show  where  they  are ;  you 
can  then  clap  your  gun  to  your  shoulder,  ready  to  fire.  Always 
in  such  cases,  shoot  on  wing,  and  be  sure  to  fire  well  forward : 
should  a  diver  only  be  winged,  it  is  useless  to  tire  y^our  re- 
triever in  pursuit ;  but  if  he  is  at  all  stmck  about  the  3gs  also, 
a  good  dog  should  be  able  to  secure  him. 

*'  So  much  for  the  small  Morillon.*  The  Golden-eyei  is  a  still 
more  artful  bird,  and  requires  more  caution.  If,  without  seeinor 
an  enemy,  he  is  at  all  alarmed  while  diving  near  the  sliore,  he 
will  probably  swim  out  to  a  considerable  distance ;  •  pconnoi- 
tering  all  the  time,  and  making  a  noise  something  like  a  single 
note  of  the  hurdy-gurdy.  You  may  perhaps  expect  his  return, 
and  wait  for  him ;  but  although  he  may  remain  about  iJ  e  same 
place,  making  these  calls,  and  apparently  careless,  he  if;  all  the 
time  veiy  suspicious ;  and  I  only  once  or  twice,  in  my  whole 
experience,  knew  him  to  return  to  the  spot  where  h  »  ai  first 
discovered.  Should  he  get  sight  of  you,  there  is  no  hi 
if  he  does  not  take  wing,  which  he  most  likely  will. 
Morillon  may  return  if  yoii  think  him  worth  waitiu^ 
he  is- so  hard  and  coarse  on  the  table,  that  it  would 
him  too  great  a  compliment.  The  Golden-eye,  on  the  ontrary, 
is  a  great  delicacy — a  sufficient  proof,  I  think,  were     here  no 


8,  even 
T.  lie  little 
but 
paying 


ior: 


*  The  small  Morillou  is  a  bird  very  closely  resembling  our  liiitrel-headed 
Duck,  though  not  identical  with  it. 

t  The  Goldeu-eye  of  England  is  the  same  aa  our  own.    Anas  Clupqula. 


Jk'.V- 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


303 


other,  that  Morillona  are  not  young  Golden-eyes,  as  many  sup- 
pose.     This  supposition,  I  hare  little  doubt,  aiises  from  the 
color  of  the  female  Golden-eye  being  pretty  much  like  that  of 
the  Morillon.     The  shape,  however,  is  different,  and  the  size  of 
the  female  Golden-eye  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  male.     I  have 
shot  them,  right  and  left  when  diving  together,  the  female  being 
the  most  wary  of  the  two.     The  Morillon  may  be  in  the  same 
flock,  as  different  kinds  of  divers  often  are ;  but  there  is  not 
half  the  caution  required  to  get  a  shot  at  him,  and,  when  com- 
pared, he  is  much  rounder  in  shape  and  one-third  smaller  in 
size.     It  may  be  said,  '  and  why  should  not  this  be  the  young 
of  the  same  species  V     I  answer,  '  that  the  young  males  of  all 
the  Duck  tribe  that  breed  in  this  country,  from  the  Mallard  to 
the   Teal,  gain  their  bright  feathers  the   first  moulting,  after 
which  the  young  males  are  at  least  equal  in  size  to  the  females; 
but  my  chief  reason  I  have  already  given,  if  the  Morillon  is  the 
young  bird,  why  should  he  reverse  the  usual  order  of  things, 
and  be  less  tender  and  delicate  than  his  parents?' 

"  When  several  are  diving  together,  you  must  get  as  near  as 
possible  without  alarming  them ;  and,  selecting  a  couple  who 
dive  at  the  same  moment,  hoot  away  the  others,  who  will  be 
far  out  of  reach  before  their  companions  come  up.  They  will 
probably  never  miss  them  until  they  have  taken  two  or  three 
dives,  thus  giving  you  an  opportunity  of  getting  the  shot ;  of 
which  you  would  have  had  a  much  worse  chance  while  they 
were  together. 

"  In  recommending  this,  be  it  observed,  I  am  supposing  the 
ground  of  difficult  access ;  when  favorable,  even  a  novice  should 
be  able  to  get  within  a  run  of  any  number  of  fowl,  without 
being  seen  by  the  most  wary  of  the  flock,  and  can  then  make 
his  selection.  For  my  own  part,  I  hardly  ever  adopt  this  plan, 
but  where  the  ground  is  bare  and  open,  an  unpractised  wild' 
fowl  shooter  would  stand  no  chance  otherwise. 

"  When  the  flock  is  large,  it  always  puzzles  a  beginner  to 
ascertain  the  length  of  time  they  are  under  water,  m  order  to 
know  what  time  he  may  sa/cl>/  allow  for  his  last  run,  which  in 
W 


m 


304 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SrORTS. 


auch  a  cnse  must  generally  be  a  long  one.     The  fowl  are  conti- 
nually coming  up  and  clisappearinir  again,  which  confuBCH  liim, 
and  unless  he  knows  the  depth  of  the  water,  the  only  way  to  find 
out  how  long  they  are  under,  is  to  watch  the  most  marked  or 
detached  of  tlie  flock,  and  then  choose  his  devoted  pair.     If  the 
water  is  very  shallow,  tliose  below  are  sure  to  perceive  the  flurry 
made  by  their  friends  at  the  top,  as  soon  as  you  commonco 
your  last  run,  and  instantly  join  them  in  their  retreat.     In  stich 
cases  it  is  always  best  to  try  for  a  distant  sitting  shot,  from  the 
nearest  refuge  you  can  safely  reach,  among  as  many  as  you  can 
get  in  line.     But  by  attempting  this,  there  is  always  a  risk  of 
Idsing  the  chance  altogether,  and  it  should  never  bo  resorted  to 
except  under  such  circumstances,  or  with  Dun-birds,*  who  keep 
more  close  together,  and  thus  present  a  better  opportunity  for 
a  heavy  sitting  shot  than  any  other  divers. 

"  Of  all  wild-fowl,  a  flock  of  Dun-birds  is  the  most  agreea- 
ble to  the  sportsman's  eye.  They  are  the  most  stupidt  of  all 
the  diver  race.  I  have  even  seen  them,  after  having  been 
driven  from  their  feeding  ground,  return  in  the  face  of  the 
shooter,  who  had  only  lain  down  without  any  covering  or  con- 
cealment whatever ;  they  have  begun  diving  again  within  thirty 
yards,  and  of  course  given  him  a  capital  shot.  I  never  wish  for 
assistance  in  manoeuvring  any  other  kind  of  water-fowl,  but 
these  may  be  herded  like  sheep ;  and,  if  feeding  on  one  side  of 

•  The  Dun-bird,  or  Pochard  of  England,  is  the  same  as  our  Red-head,  Fuli- 
gula  Ferina,  which  is  with  us  a  sea  Duck,  only  frequenting  the  bays  and 
estuaries  of  large  rivers  ;  although,  like  the  Canvass-back,  it  is  found  westward 
far  inland,  on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Ohio,  Mississippi,  and  Missouri. 

t  This  agrees  well  with  what  we  know  of  the  facility  with  which  they  are 
toled,  as  it  is  called,  by  the  most  simple  artifice,  even  the  waving  of  a  hand- 
kerchief, into  gun-shot,  on  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  I  do  not  see 
but  that  this  hint  maybe  found  available  in  Bay-shooting.  I  know  that  Brant 
Geese  may  be  driven  by  a  man  rowing,  at  such  a  distance  from  them  as  not  to 
alarm  them  into  taking  wing,  up  to  the  very  muzzle  of  a  concealed  sportsman's 
gun.  This  is,  I  think,  a  recently  discovered  habit  of  the  Brant ;  but  is  now 
regularly  acted  upon,  on  the  south  side  of  Long  Island.  Ou  the  first  opiioria- 
iiity  I  will  certainly  try  it  with  Red-heads. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


305 


a  hny,  you  have  only  to  conceal  yourself  at  the  other,  and  send 
your  man  round  to  where  they  ar^  diving.     They  w.ll  most 
likely  c.me  straight  towards  you,  and,  again  beginning  t(,  feed, 
will  probably  every  five  or  ton  minutos  draw  all  together  with 
then-  heads  up.     Now  is  your  time  to  fire,  if  you  have  the  good 
fortune  to  be  within  shot ;  but  should  you  prefer  two  birdn  in* 
the  hand  to  waiting  for  their  knitting  together,  you  may  have  a 
capital  right  and  left  when  they  come  up  from  diving :  I  how- 
ever  should  be  loath  to  lose  the  opportunity  of  the  sitting  shot. 
1  here  are  many  other  divers  that  frequent  our  lochs,  such  as 
the  tufted*  and  seaupt  Ducks,   &c.,  but  they  may  all  be  ap- 
proa.,hed  m  the  same  way  as  the  Golden-eye  and  the  Morillon  • 
none  are  so  shy  a^  the  former.t     Those  that  feed  on  fish,  such 

•  The  Ring-necked  Duck  of  America.     Fuligula  Rufitorque,. 

t  rhe  Scaup.duck-i„  the  West,  Flocking  Fowl-on  the  Chesapeake, 
Black-head-conimonly  Blue.bili.or  Broad-bill.  Fuligula  Marila.  All  thee 
are  properly  Sea  Ducks;  but  all  are  found  to  the  Westward,  as  i„  Great  Bri- 
tain,  more  or  less  inland. 

t  «'  Last  winter  I  had  a  good  opportunity  of  contrasting  the  artful  and  suspi- 
C.OUS  nature  of  theGolien-eye  with  that  of  the  more  confiding  Morillon.   When 
.hootnig  wild-fowl   on  the  banks  of  the  Teith,  I  discovered,  with  my  gla«s,  a 
Golden-eye  feeding  at  the  top  of  a  long  creek,  and  a  couple  of  MorilIon«  at  the 
bottom  where  ,t  joined  the  river.     As  they  were  at  some  distance  from  each 
other.  ,t  was  impossible  to  keep  an  eye  upon  both.      So.  knowing  that  if  the 
Golden-eye  got  a  glimpse  of  ,n^.  he  would  not  stay  to  take  another.  I  was  ob- 
liged to  trust  to  the  simplicity  of  the  more  social  Morillons.     I  got  within  a  fair 
d.stance  for  my  last  rm..  when  the  Morillons,  who  had  caught  a  transient  glance 
at  my  manceuvres,  pu.d  lao  compliment  of  giving  me  their  undivided  attention  ; 
but,  as  they  did  not  leave  the  ground,  nor  show  any  other  sign  of  alarm,  I  was 
congratulating  myself  that  all  was  safe.     The  moment,  however,  that  the  Gol- 
den-eyecame  up  from  the  dive,  he  perceived  that  the  Morillons  were  resting  on 
their  oars,  and  instantly  was  on  his  guard.     It  was  most  curious  to  see  the  cun- 
ningand  tact  of  the  creature,  which  I  had  every  advantage  for  observing,  as  I 
wa.  well  concealed.     He  kept  cruising  about,  with  outstretched  neck,  peering 
first  on  one  side  of  the  creek,  then  on  the  other,  always  selecting  the  best  points 
of  s„rht  to  halt,  and  make  his  observations.     Nor  would  he  recommence  his  re- 
past  until  the  Morillons  had  set  him  the  example.     And.  had  I  not  known  hi. 
usual  precaution  of  making  the  first  dive  or  two,  after  being  scared,  very  short 
he  nught  even  then  have  escaped." 

VOL.  I.  20 


306 


FRANK    FOHESTEU  S    FIELD    SPORTS. 


an  tho  Oonsandor,  Spocklctl  Divor,  Shohlriiko,  Sec,  require  ra- 
thor  difToriMit  luetics.  To  got  a  shot  at  any  of  those,  you  miiNt 
watch  which  way  thoy  are  feeding,  ami,  tnkuig  your  station 
Bomowhat  in  advance,  wait  until  they  pans  you  ;  thoy  will  not 
keep  you  long,  as  they  arc  very  rapid  in  thcnr  movements.  Take 
euro  that  tho  water  is  pretty  doop  where  you  place  youi-Holf,  or 
they  may  divo  at  too  great  a  distance  from  the  shore  for  a  sliot; 
but,  ailer  all,  thoy  are  good  for  nothitig  but  tu  bo  stuiled  for  a 
collection. 

"  Tho  only  other  bird  that  requires  a  separate  notice  is  the 
mighty  Hooper,*  monarch  of  the  flood.  To  get  a  shr)t  at  tho 
Wild  Swnn  is  tho  great  object  of  tho  sportsman's  d(»«ire :  he  is 
not  naturally  so  shy  a  bird  as  tho  Wild-duck,  but  still  his  long 
nock,  and  acute  sense  of  hearing,  render  great  caution  ikm-os- 
sary.  If,  as  ofken  happens,  ho  is  feeding  along  tho  shore,  ycm 
have  only  to  plant  yourself  in  an  advantageous  situation  a  g(»od 
way  a-hcad,  and  it  will  not  be  long  befoi'o  ho  makes  his  apptMir- 
anco ;  but  if  ho  ia  feeding  at  the  mouth  of  some  brook  or  stream, 
you  must  crawl  in  the  same  way  as  when  after  Wild-ducks, 
Should  you  get  within  a  distant  shot  of  a  Hoopoi,  and  are  not 
close  to  tho  water  side,  instead  of  firing  from  where  you  are, 
rush  down  to  tho  edge  of  the  loch,  and  before  tho  Swan  can 
take  wing,  you  will  have  gained  ten  yards  upon  him.  When 
tho  thaw  begins  after  very  hard  weather,  they  are  almost  sure 
to  be  feeding  at  tho  njouth'j  of  any  mountain  bums  that  nin  into 
the  k)ch.  Should  you  see  Hoopers  feeding  greedily,  nearly  out 
of  range  of  your  gun,  in  place  of  taking  the  random  shot,  try  to 
pi'event  their  being  disturbed,  and  return  at  dusk  of  evening,  or 
giey  of  morning,  when  they  will  most  likely  have  come  pretty 
close  to  the  shore,  especially  if  any  little  rivulets  run  into  the 
loch  near  :  this  iiile  applies  to  most  water-fowl.     If  a  Swan  be 


•  This  is  a  different  bird  from  tlie  Swan  of  tlie  ChesHpcake,  Cycniis  Aincri- 
canvs,  thougli  closely  cognate.  Our  bird  never.  I  fancy,  betakes  himself  to 
lakes,  or  the  like,  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  though  he  is  said  to  da 
so  in  the  far  West,  beyond  the  Missisiippi  and  Rocky  Mountains 


npiAND  snonTrmi.  ,.. 

»ivmi  iiiujctiirally  away.  '^^     "'  '" 

I"),  iiic  silting  liliarico  nitoirothoi-.    I  on™  l,;il.,  l    ■ 
"a  .1,„„  :„„,oxoBpt  when  they  ,»„,.„,  ,„     ""f"'"",'"'  ""! 

Go,„I  ,p„„  „ee,l  „„vor  ho  expected  when  the  l„,h      ^ 
a»  many  of  the  fowl  swim  up  creeks  »„,!  .  "'■«°' 

>ho,o,  where  i,  i,  i:m,2  ^  '    ^  """"S^  "■"  moraMe,  in 

«....  rLmah,  „:  L  ^'^  n^rthe"  HT'"'  """  ^  "'■"°  "- 

;;u*-,  .0.,  that  it .  ,L  tt:^:::  :::z:°rjr '"- 

theloditio  bettor-  nt  «]!«,»      i.      ,    ''^  "'em.     1  he  lower 

.»:!!:: :;::::«::,  Sfre:;e:rr;"  °"  '"^  -'^"• 

.e„t  them,„,ves  .,„,„,  the  h.^ri  ^  ';^, LTer  '''■ 
for  even  the  Morilh,,,,  o.,rli«  of  the  .liver  trile  ...  1  '  ' 

so  .oon,  and  the  Tufted  and  Scaup  Duck:,  ^::Z.::!Z 


ii 


3D8 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


until  the  winter  sets  in  •     Multitudes  of  Wild-ducks  do  mme 
•lown  from  the  moors,  during  hax-vest,  to  feed  upon  the  corn- 
fields on  the  banks  of  some  of  the  larger  lochs,  and,  when  the 
stubble  becomes  bare,  return  to  the  moor-lochs  until  these  are 
frozen  over,  which  again  drives  them  back.     This  is  the  only 
foundation  for  the  vulgar  error.     A   day  or  two  is  generally 
sufficient  to  freeze  over  these  little  lochs,  and  their  occupants 
then  come  down  to  the  larger  ones,  the  greater  parts  of  which 
remam  open  long  after  the  storm  has  set  in.     Now  is  the  time 
for  the  wild-fowl  shooter  :  if  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow 
so  much  the  better.     The  fowl  are  then  in  groups  close  to  the 
shore,  pmched  with  cold  and  hunger,  seeking  shelter  and  a 
scanty  morsel.     If  at  the  same  time  it  is  windy,  with  drifts  of 
snow,  no  weather  can  be  more  propitious  for  Ducks,  Widgeon 
Teal,  and  all  wild-fowl  that  feed  at  the  margh..     When  the' 
snow  is  falling  thick  and  fast,  a  capital  sitting  shot  may  some- 
times be  obtained,  though  the  ground  be  so  bare  as  to  offer  no 
concealment.     In  most  cases,  however,  it  is  best  not  to  take  the 
cover  off  your  gun  till  the  shower  moderates  a  little,  as  snow  is 
so  apt  to  penetrate,  and  make  it  miss  fire. 

"  If  the  weather  be  open,  the  higher  the  wind  the  better,  as 
It  dnves  to  the  shore  whatever  fowl  are  upon  the  loch,  although 
until  the  frost  sets  in  they  will  be  comparatively  few. 

"  The  most  auspicious  weather  for  divers  is  one  of  those  frostj 
days,  accompanied  by  mist,  when  the  loch  is  perfectly  calm  and 
looks  like  a  mirror  dimmed  by  one's  breath.  You  may  then 
hear  their  plash  in  the  water-sometimes  even  before  they  can 
be  seen~and,  if  care  is  taken  to  make  no  rustling  among  the 
bushes,  when  they  are  above  the  water,  you  have  every  pros- 

•  These  observations  on  the  seasons  of  these  birds  in  Great  Britain,  might, 
perhaps  have  been  omitted  ;  but  I  consider  the  whole  of  this  extract  so  very 
able  and  correct,  that,  taking  into  consideration  the  vast  extent  «„d  variety  of 
lat.tud.3  covered  by  the  shooting  grounds  of  America,  in  some  of  which  the  oli- 
mate  closely  resembles  that  of  England,  I  have  not  been  able  to  prevail  on  n.v- 

To  L    "T;,"  ;  "  '  '; "''  ""*  *'"'  "^  P'^""  ^'  "•'''^^  '•'^  -P  -"'  bo  fonnd 
to  ht,and  the  hints  of  consequence  to  be  useful. 


UPLAND    8HOOTINO. 


309 


psct  of  a  good  chance.     The  smoothness  of  the  8urfar«  ur.A  .^. 
.-St  makes  each  bird  appear  twice  as  large  as  itTThiche; 
bles  you  much  more  easily  to  catch  sirrhf  .f  1 

..on  I  „ay  conclude  ,h„  paper  by  mentioning,  ,h,,  ft,  game- 

tl.c  Acre  and  no  way  of  getting  ntar  them  but  over  a  bare 
field  crawled  flat  „p„„  hi,  face  a  distance  of  three  h„nd"d 
yard,,  p„,b,      u,  g„„  ^^^^^  ^^^^  hund    d 

head,  and  at  last  got  within  sue!,  fair  distanc^,  that  he  rnpad 
ur  ™h  h.,  H,«  barrel,  and  one  with  the  other,  securinXm 

t  athf  LT  ""        \  '  ™""  '■••-""g-P'-'-    I  »hol  add 
.hat  he  had  been  tra.ned  to  deer^alking,  under  hi,  father,  from 

It  may,  perhap,,  be  thought  worthy  of  remark,  that  thi,  i,  the 

tngl  ,1,  author,  a,  regard,  the  mode  of  beating  for,  p„li„7 
or  k.l  ,„g  any  kind  o^  game.     When  I  come  to  treLt'of  gl': 
nery  tH    breed,,  breaking,  di,ea,es,  and  treatment  of  do^Td 
.he  ,ke  ,„p,c,,  ,t ,,  on  Briti,h  ,porting  autbo,,  especially, ICt 
exclu,,vely,  that  I  ,hall  rely,  but,  in  fact,  the  game  of  Amen"a 
..  »o  different,  the  place,  and  mode,  of  takinglt  ,o  much  a. "I 
nance,  and  the  habit,  of  the  few  animaU  of  eha,e  which  aTj 
nearly  alhedtn  the  two  conntrie,,  are  ,o  completely  dttinct 
om  tb„,e  of  England,  that  the  precept,  of  the  best'Enlh 
pomng  wnter,  are  u,ele„   here.      Of  Col.  Hawker',  g^eat 
we  k,  above  half    which  half  wa,  very  properly  rejected  by  i 
"We  Amencan  ed.tor-ralata,  to  fowl  ahooting,  Id  f„wh„g 


mi 


W'i 


310 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


apparatus,  as  practiced  and  adopted  on  the  coast  of  England 
all  which  would  be  of  no  more  use  to  a  sportsman  here,  than  a' 
treatise  on  archery  of  the  fourteenth  century  to  a  Kentucky 
rifleman.  ■' 

The  above  extracts  arc  practical,  and  ajjplicable  to  any  and 
every  country,  and  cannot  lail  to  be  found  generally  useful. 

The   only  other  observations  to  be  made  on  Upland  fowl 
shooting,  relate  to  the  quality  of  gun  most  adapted  to  the  sport 
and  the  size  of  shot,  grain  of  powder,  and  the  like,  which  are, 
of  course,  all  more  or  less  different  from  those  u.ed  in  Upland 
shooting  for  ordinary  game. 

To  a  person  living  in  a  country  where  this  sport  can  be  rea- 
dily and  often  pursued,  and  who  is  an  amateur  in  it,  a  gun  espe- 
cially made  for  the  pui-pose  is  indispensable.     It  must  be  a 
double-barrel,  and  as  heavy  as  can  conveniently  be  can-ied ; 
the  more  metal,  the  less  recoil,  and  the  greater  force  of  propul- 
sion ;  extreme  length  is  utterly  useless— nay,  detrimental !— for 
a  gun  of  four  feet  bane!  must  either  be  unmanageably  pon- 
derous, or  must  be  so  light  at  the  breech  as  to  become  top-heavy. 
All  that  is  requisite  is  a  gun  that  will  throw  from  two  to  three 
ounces  of  No.  3  or  4  shot,  very  strong,  and  very  regularly  dis- 
tributed.    For  any  ordinary  purpose,  two  ounces  of  shot  is  suffi- 
cient; and  in  my  opinion  the  gun  which  will  do  that  as  efiec- 
tively  as  any  that  can  be  made,  is  one  of  12-guage,  36  inches 
barrel,  and  9  to  10  lbs.  weight.     A  gun  of  this  kind  can  be  fur- 
nished by  Mr.  Mullin,  of  Barclay  street.  New- York,  next  door 
to  the  "  Spirit  of  the  Times"  office,  for  a  hundred  dollars,  of  ex- 
cellent quality ;  and  I  only  give  an  opinion  on  which  I  have 
acted,  and  not  been  disappointed,  wlien  I  say  that  I  would  ra- 
ther have  a  gun  of  his  workmanship  made  to  my  order,  for  any 
price  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  than' any  im- 
ported gun  at  the  same  rato.. 

The  high  qualities  of  English  guns  are  not  to  be  surpassed, 
but  cannot  be  furnished  by  any  first-rate  maker  short  of— appur- 
tenances included— dCSe.  This,  with  30  per  ct.  ad  valorem  duty 
added,  shipping  charges,  &c.,  will  amount  to  a  very  large  price. 


PPLAND   SHOOTING. 


311 


Nevertheless,  I  say,  if  any  man  be  disposed  to  go  to  the  trouble 
of  iini)orting  an  English  gun  at  all,  lot  him  import  a  first-rate 
and  first  price  Lmdon  article.  I  never  saw  a  Birmingham  gun 
I  would  have  cared  to  shoot  with ;  and  I  do  not  consider  that 
Westley  Richards'  merits  at  all  equal  his  reputation.  I  consider 
Purdoy,  Lancaster,  and  Mi.onj  and  Gray,  the  first  three  makers 
of  the  day  ;  and  were  I  offered  the  gift  of  a  gun,  with  the  choice 
of  the  maker,  I  should  name  the  latter  house  as  ray  makers. 

No.  4  shot  I  consider  (juito  large  enough  for  any  kind  of 
fowl,  unless  Canada  Geese,  or  Wild  Swans ;  but  I  would  al- 
ways use  a  green  Eley's  cartridge  in  one  barrel.     The  best 
powder,  beyond  all  question  or  comparison,  for  fowling,  and  es- 
pecially «ea  shooting,  is  what  is  called  Hawker's  Ducking  Powder, 
prepared  by  Curtis  and  Hai-vey,  as  the  diamond  grain  of  the 
Bame  house  is  by  all  odds  the  quickest,  strongest,  and  cleanest 
powder  in  the  world.     The  grain  of  the  ducking  powder  is  ex- 
tremely  coarse— coarser  than  cannon  powder— and  veiy  hard  ; 
it  is  not,  therefore,  liable  to  become  damp  or  liquefied,  when 
exposed  to  a  saline  atmosphere.     Notwithstanding  the  large 
size  of  its  grain,  it  is  readily  ignited  even  in  a  small  gun,  by  one 
of  Starkey's  central  fire  watei-proof  caps.     One  of  these,  for  an 
experiment,  I  kept  foity-eight  hours  in  a  tumbler  full  of  water, 
and  it  exploded  quickly  and  cleanly.     There  is  nothing  like 
them,— but,  like  all  good  things,  they  are  dear.     For  the  rest,  a 
person  who  cares  to  keep  but  one  gun,  will  find  himself  able  to 
do  good  work  with  a  general  shooting  piece  of  Hguage,  32 
inches  barrel,  and  8  lbs.  weight,  even  at  fowl,  if  he  uses  No.  4, 
Eley's  wire  cartridges.     Vcrbuin  sap.    And  so  adieu  to  Upland 


312 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


SPORTING   DOGS. 


S  without  the  aid  of  well  bred 
and   well    broke    dogs  no  game 
can  be  either  successfully  or  sci- 
ertiHcallly  pursued,  and  as  in  the 
management  of  this  noble  ani- 
mal  both  in  the  kennel  and  the 
field  consists,  perhaps,  the  great- 
er  part  of  the  tme  science    of 
woodcraft,    no    work     on    field 
sports  can  be  esteemed  in  any- 
wise  complete,  which  does  not  treat  of  their  breeds,  character- 
istics  and  general  treatment ;  whether  in  health,  in  sickness  in 
the  house,  or  in  the  field.     This  portion  of  my  subject,  I  the're- 
fore,  now  approach,  without  farther  obsei-vation  than  this,  that 
neither  a  complete   history  of  canine   pathology,  nor  a  full 
treatise  on  dog-breaking  must  be  looked  for  within  the  limits  of 
8uch  a  book  as  this,  and  that  a  few  general  directions  and  hints 
only  can  be  afforded  on  a  topic  which  has  itself  occupied  many 
volumes,  devoted  to  it  entirely  by  writers  of  competent  talent 
and  experience. 

Two  of  these,  more  especially,  should  be  found  in  every 
sportsman's  library.  I  mean  Youatt  on  the  Dog,  and  Blaine's 
Canme  Pathology.  Of  the  first  of  these  works  a  handsome 
eduiqn  has  been  recently  published   by  Messrs.  Lea  &  iJhm- 


tTPLAND   SHOOTING. 


313 


chard  of  Philadelphia,    under  the  editorial   supervision  of  E. 
J.  Lewis,  M.  D..  of  that  city,  a  genfleman  who  has  perform- 
ed  Ins  part  with  creditable  accuracy,  diligence  and  research; 
and    whose  fondness  for  the  animal  in  rjuestion.  and  his  long 
study  of  Its  peculiarities,  entitle  his  observa  ions  to  respectful 
attention;   although  to  some  of  his  views,  especially  in  re-rard  to 
breeding  and  races,  I  must  enter  my  dissent.     The  latter  book 
has  never,  I  believe,   been  republished  in  America,  but  the 
J^nghsh  edition  is  not  costly,  and  may  be  obtained  from  any 
considerable  bookseller  in  the  United  States.     With  these  two 
guides  and  text-books  in  his  possession  the  sportsman  will  be 
iittle  at  a  loss  m  regard  either  to  the  diagnosis  or  treatment  of 
diseases,  winch  he  must  perforce  attend  to  personally  in  this 
country,    as    veterinary    surgeons    are    neither    numerous   nor 
3kiUul,  generally  speaking,  even  in  the  larger  cities,  while  in 
the  country  districts  they  are  not;  and  even  where  they  are 
canine  pathology  is  little  understood  or  professed  by  them. 

To  proceed  at  once  then  in  medias  res,  the  races  of  sporting 
dogs  used  in  upland  shooting,  are  three  in  number,  the  Setter, 
the  Pointer  and  the  Spaniel,  and  of  each  race  several  varieties 
are  m  use,  all  being  of  the  division  known  as  sagacps,  being 
distinguished  by  their  qualities  of  instinct  and  powers  of  scent- 
ing, m  contradistinction  to  speed  or  ferocity. 

Of  these  the  best  known,  and  most  generally  used,  and  I 
must  think  with  justice,  as  superior  in  beauty,  endurance  and 
aptitude  to  our  climate  and  style  of  shooting,  is 


THE    SETTER. 


The  origin  of  this  beautiful  and  admirable  species  is  beyond 
a  doubt,  the  large  land  Spaniel  improved  by  judicious  breeding 
to  his  peculiar  size  and  beauty,  and  taught,  until  teaching  has 
become  second  habit,  and  the  result  of  training  grown  into  an 
hereditary  instinct,  to  mark  his  game  by  setting  or  crouchin<r, 
instead  of  flushing  it  on  the  instant.  ° 


314 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


A  great  deal  of  absurd  nonsense  has  been  written  about  the 
Dreed  and  race  of  the  Setter,  from  the  mass  of  which  I  shall  select 
the  following  passage  lor  two  reasons,  fii-st  that  it  reaches  the 
very  climax  of  possible  stupidity,  and  second,  that  it  is  from  the 
pen  of  one  who  should  know  better,  at  least  to  merit  the  reputa- 
tion  he  has  acquired;  being  no  other  than  the  pjrson  who  has 
gained  very  considerable  celebrity  ;  -  .^uthor  of  "  The  Sports- 
man  in  France,"  "The  Sportsma.  .land  and  Scotland," 

and  "  The  Sportsman  in  Canada." 

After  stating  that  the  Setter  is  his  favorite  dog  in  the  field, 
and  decidedly  the  most  useful  for  general  shooting  in  France,"' 
Mr.  Tolfrey  actually  proceeds  to  give  the  following  receipt  for 
MAKING  A  BREED  OF  SETTERS,  foigetful.  apparently,  that  it  is 
very  unnecessary  to  set  about  making,  what  nature  has  already 
made  m  perfection  to  our  hand,  and  quite  ignorant,  it  should 
seem,  that  it  is  impossible  to  make  a  pure  strain  from  any  com- 
bmation  of  crosses.     There  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  true 
better   is  a  pure  strain  of  unmixed   Spaniel  blood,  the  only 
improvement  produced  in  the  breed  arising  from  its  judicious 
cultivaton,  by  the  selection  of  the  largest,  healthiest  and  hand- 
som^st  individuals  of  both  sexes  from  which  to  rear  a  proffenv 
and  by  the  careful  development  of  their  qualities,  by  scientific 
teedmg,  exercising,  and  bringing  into  condition.     The  following 
recaj^t  may  therefore  make  a  useful  mongrel,  but  can  no  more 
make  a  Setter,  than  crossing  a  Quagga,  a  Zebra  and  a  Cana- 
dian   pony-all  varieties   of  the  horse   breed-can  make   a 
thorough-bred. 

"  The  preliminary  step,"  he  says,  "is  to  put  a  fine  bred  and 
unexceptionable  Pointer  bitch  to  a  noted  Foxhound  ,•  you  will 
then  have  laid  the  foundation  of  three  essential  qualities,  speed, 
nose  and  courage.  Docility  and  sagacity  are  also  requisites, 
and  to  obtain  them  cross  the  offspring  with  the  small  and 
slender  race  of  Newfoundland  dog.  The  produce  will  be  as 
near  perfectimi  as  possib.d ;  they  will  take  to  the  water  re- 
tiieve,  and  for  general  shooting  will  be  found  the  very  best  and 
most  useful  animal  the  sportsman  can  desire," 


tXPLAND  SHOOTING. 


315 


I  quote  the  above  as  I  have  said,  merely  to  caution  the 
sportsman  against  giving  the  least  heed  to  any  such  stuff,  and 
o  wai-n  him  to  avoid  any  crossing  or  intermixture  of  breeds  as 
he  would  the  plague.  If  he  prefer  the  Pointer,  let  him  stick 
to  Pomter.  but  let  it  be  a  Pointer  pure.  If  Setter,  let  him  do 
tne  same.  Any  mixture,  even  of  those  two  kindred  bloods  is 
m  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  disadvantageous,  and  instead  of  com- 
binmg  the  peculiar  excellencies,  the  produce  is  very  apt  to 
unite  the  worst  qualities  of  the  several  strains,  superadded  to  a 
sullenness  and  badness  of  temper,  which  is  in  some  sort,  the 
charactenstic  of  all  mules. 

Mr.  Lewis  is  under  the  impression,  as  I  gather  from  his 
comments  on  Youatt.  that  it  is  the  fashion  in  England,  to 
intermix  Setter  and  Pointer  blood,  by  way  of  improving  the 
fo  mer.  and  that  the  majority  of  English  Setters  has  be^.  so 
ntei-mmgled  mtentionally,  with  the  idea  that  the  qualities  of 
tlie  animal  are  improved  thereby. 

This  idea  is  utterly  en-oneous ; '  for.  although  doubtless  much 
Setter  blood  has  been  thus  vitiated,  no  persons  priding  them- 
selves on  their  kennels,  or  fanciful,  no.  to  say  scientific,  about 
their  breeds  of  dogs,  would  admit  one  of  these  mongrels  into 
their  establishment,  much  less  breed  from  him.  Such  an  inter- 
mixture IS  regarded  as  decidedly  a  taint,  as  a  strain  of  cock-tail 
blood  m  the  pedigree  of  a  thorough-bred  horse.  And  very 
many  nob  emen  and  gentlemen  pay  as  much  attention  to  their 
breeding  kennels,  and  their  peculiar  and  private  strains  of 
Pointers  and  Setters,  as  others  do  to  the  breeding  and  rearing 
oi  the  race  horse.  " 

The  Pointer  is  a  made  dog,  that  is  to  say,  he  is  not  of  an 
original  or  pure  breed,  traceable  to  any  one  variety,  nor  has  he 
been  known  to  the  sporting  worid  for  any  considerable  length 
of  time.  The  Spaniel  is  first  mentioned,  and  that  in  his 
improved  form  as  a  Setter,  i.  e.  taught  to  couch,  in  a  MS.  work 
written  by  the  grand  huntsman  to  Edward  the  Second,  so  Ions 
ago  as  A.  D.  1307,  whereas  the  Pointer  was  not  known  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  and  probably  has  nut  existed  in  his  present 


316 


FRANK    FOHESTKr's    KJELD   SPORTS. 


unproved  form,  for  much  above  a  hundred  years.  He  yyan 
known  originally  as  the  Spanish  Pointer,  and  was  probably  first 
reared  in  that  country,  to  which  his  peculiar  capacity  for  endu- 
ring  heat  and  the  want  of  water  singularly  adaj)t8  him. 

It  appears  probable  that  he  is  an  improved  or  altered  form 
of  the  Foxhound,  bred  and  trained  to  stand  ir^stead  of  chasing 
hiB  game,  and  to  repress  his  cry  ;  and  it  is  ge.iovally  supposed 
that  th,s  was  effected  and  his  present  type  obt  .i.ed  by  crossing 
the  Foxhound  with  the  Spaniel.     I  cannot  8.     that  I  believe 
this  to  be  the  case,  as  I  cannot  see  by  what  anal.^gy  the  crossing 
a  feather-stenied  dog.  such  as  the  Hound,  with  ou .  entirely  rou.h 
and  silky-haired,  like  the  Spaniel,  should  resuJ.  in  the  produc- 
tion of  d  race,  the  characteristic  of  which  is  the  dosest  and  most 
Batin-hke  of  coats,  and  the  whip-like  tail  of  a  vv.     I  am  inclined 
myself  to  believe  that  the  oiiginal  stock  is  fro,  ,  the  Foxhound 
and  smooth-haired  Danish  or  Pomeranian  do?   crossed  perhaps 
again  with  Spaniel,  but  so  slightly  as  to  show    aw  of  its  charac- 
tenstic  points.     The  Pointer  being,  as  I  have  said,  originally  a 
cross-bred  dog.  sportsmen  continued  to  mix  his  blood  occasi- 
onally  to  obtain  different  qualities,  to  a  late  per  od,  and  even  now 
foxhound  blood  is  occasionally  added,  in  order  to  give  dash 
and  courage.     I  should  not  be  suiprised  to  fi-.l  that  a  cross  of 
the  Bull-dog  had   been  introduced,  as  it  wa.  ntageouslv 

into  the  Greyhound  by  Lord  Orford.  though  I  ha>  ,und  no 
mention  of  the  fact-but  the  type  of  the  animal  is  no  firmly 
estabhshed.  and  the  finest  breed  reproduces  itself  in  its  -st 
strain,  if  purely  bred. 

The  cross  breeding,  which  I  have  named,  has  never  been 
allowed  with  regard  to  the  Setter,  however,  except  by  some 
Ignorant  or  prejudiced  keeper,  or  some  pei-srm  desirous  of  pre- 
sei-vmg.  by  this  unnatural  union,  some  qualities  of  a  favorite 
individual  of  either  strain.  In  any  well-kept  kennels  a  chance 
htter  from  a  Setter  bitch  by  a  Pointer  dog,  or  vice  versa;  would 
undoubtedly  be  condemned  to  the  horse-pond,  and  with  Irish 
sportsmen,  who  are  very  choice  of  their  Setters,  a  cross  evev 
with  the  English  Setter  would  be  regarded  as  a  blemish. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


317 


The  Setter  is  too  well  known  in  this  country  to  require  u 
particular  descnption,  it   may   be  well,  however,  to  call  the 
attention  to  some  of  those  points,   which    peculiarly   indicate 
punty  of  breed;  the  first  (,f  these  is  undoubtedly  the  nature  of 
his  coat,  which,  in  the  finest  and  purest  strain,  is  long,  sleek 
and  wavy,  but  not  curhj,  even  upon  the  crest  and  ears— a  ten- 
dency to  curl  indicating  an  admixture  of  the  Water  Spaniel— it 
should  be  as  soft,  and  almost  as  fine  and  glossy  as  floss  silk,  and 
on  Ins  stei-n  and  along  the  back  of  his  legs  should  expand  into 
a  fringe  known  technically  as  the  feathering,  often  of  many 
inches  in  extent.     The  head  should  be  broad  between  the  eyes 
with  a  high   bony  process  or -ridge  at  the  hinder  extremity  of 
he  skull,  between  the  ears,  which  is  by  many  spoilsmen  thought 
to  indicate  the  degree  of  the  animal's  olfactory  powers      There 
should  be  rather  a  deep  indenture  between  the  eyes;  the  nose 
should  be  long  rather  than  broad,  and  somewhat  tapering,  with 
soft,   moist,   well-expanded   nostrils,   and  above   all  things,    a 
black  nose  and  palate,  with  a  full,  liquid,  dark  and  singularly 
expressive  eye.     The  best  breed  is  not  very  tall  or  bulky,  and 
the  great,  heavy-shouldered,  coarse,  square-headed,  club-tailed. 
fleecy  brutes  which  are  generally  called  Setters,  in  this  country 

rrtll  '^^  '"'"''  ^'^'"'""  '"^'h  "•"««  ««  '^^'  recommended 
by  Mr.  Tolfrey,  on  the  original  Setter  stock. 

The  best  and  most  useful  dog  is  of  medium  height,  very  deep- 
chested  and  high-withered,  what  we  should  call    in  a  horse 
well  coupled,  or  closely  ribbed  up.  and  very  strong  and  broad 
across  the  loins.     The  legs  should  be  straight,  and  the  lon..er  to 
the  knee  and  hock  joints,  and  the  shorter  thence  to  the  pas'torns 
the  better.     The  feet  should  be  hard,  round,  and  cat-like,  and 
well  provided  with  ball  and  toe  tufts,  which  are  of  .rreat  effi 
cacy  ,„  protecting  the  feet  from  becoming  sore,  either  fiom  wet 
and  ice,  or  from  hard,  stony,  or  stubby  ground.     Their  action 
when  ,n  movement,  is  very  lithe  and  graceful,  the  stem  is  carried 
h.,gl,,  and  constantly  feathered,  and  it  is  a  good  sign  if  the  head 
18  likewise  carried  high,  and  if  the  dog  snuff'  the  air  when  scent- 
•ng  his  game,  rather  than  stoop  his  nose  to  the  ground   and 


319 


FRANK   FORESTEh's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


puzzle  for  his  scent,  which  habit  is  often  the  result  of  a  defi- 
Clancy  m  his  olfactory  power. 

In  my  opinion,  the  Setter  is  infinitely  preferable  to  the 
Pointer  everywhere,  ,inless  in  dry,  barren  plains,  where  water 
IS  not  to  be  had ;  as  in  snch  places  the  Pointer  can  hunt  well  on 
an  allowance  of  fluid,  on  which  a  Setter  could  not  exist.  The 
Pointer  ,s  more  docile,  it  is  true,  and  has,  perhaps,  a  fin.r  nose, 
though  I  think  his  extreme  caution,  rather  than  superior  scent- 
i"g  qualities,  has  led  to  the  idea  of  his  superiority  in  this  res- 
pect. These  qualities  are.  however,  counterbalanced  by  so 
many  other  points  of  superionty  on  the  part  of  the  Setter,  that 
I  must  decidedly  g.ve  him  the  palm  over  his  rival,  and  espe- 

nace  of  Setters  will  do  as  „,uch  work,  and  that  work  more  sa- 

isfactonly,  than  two  brace  of  Pointers,  hunted  steadily  through 

the  season,  week  m  and  week  out.     Individual  Pointei.  may 

be.  and  have  been,  of  rare  excellence,  but  as  a  rac.they  cannot 

compete  with  the  Setter.     For  a  mere  tyro,  whodoesnot  know 

his  dog  out  five  or  SIX  times  in  a  year  only,  a  Pointer  is  un- 
doubtedly  preferab  e-for.  without  work,  a  Setter  is  apt  to  he 
headsu-ong  and  wild-but  for  the  everyday  shot,  the  all-day! 
long  shot,  the  rough-and-tumble,  eager,  scientific,  keen  sports 
man.  rely  upon  it  the  Setter  is  the  dog. 

Of  the  Setter,  there  are  three  principal  varielies. 
The  Engmsh  Setter,  which  is  the  animal  commonly  in  use 
m  this  country,  too  well  known  to  need  peculiar  description  of 
which  .le  points  de.ribed  above  are  the  principal  charactef 
tics  He  IS  found  of  all  colors-black,  black  and  wl.ite.  black 
and  tan.  pure  white,  liver,  liver  and  white,  orange  or  red  and 
yellow  and  white  spotted;  and  of  all  these  colons  he  is  f >und 

Tnot  b      f  '  r  f'\'  '"•"'  ''  '"^y  ^«  -^^'  ^h-^  ^-d  dog 
cannot  be  of  a  bad  color.     Nevertheless.  I  am  apt  to  fhink  tha^ 

hver  color  .apt  to  indicate  a  predominance  of  PoLr,  or  wl 
S^mel  blood,  though  take  him  altogether,  the  best  dog  I  ever 
owned  was  hver  and  white,  and  so  curly  about  the  head  that  I 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


319 


' 


sometimes  suspected  a  Spaniel  cross.  A  chocolate-colored  nose 
[  look  upon  as  very  suspicious,  and  a  flesh-colored,  or  white 
nose,  I  tiiink  indicative  of  softness  of  constitution. 

The  Irish  Setter  is  either  pure  red,  or  red  and  white,  or 
yellow  and  white  spotted.  His  nose,  lips,  and  palate,  are  inva- 
riably black.  His  coat  is  somewhat  more  wiry,  and  his  frame 
more  bony  and  muscular  than  the  English  dog.  He  is  the  har- 
diest and  most  dauntless  of  the  race,  and,  though  apt  to  bo  some- 
what  unmanageable  and  headstrong,  if  he  is  sufficiently  worked, 
and  managed  with  a  tight  hand,  these  faults  can  be  kept  down, 
while  his  indomitable  pluck,  his  rapidity,  his  perseverance,  and 
his  diish,  render  him,  in  my  opinion,  for  the  real  hard-working 
Bpoitsman,  preferable  to  his  English  brother. 

The  Scotch  and  Welsh  Setters  are  in  no  respect  distinct 
varieties,  and  only  differ  from  the  English,  as  being  inferior  in 
purity  of  bl  )(id.  The  Irish  dog  is  undoubtedly  the  original  type 
of  the  Setter  in  Great  Britain. 

The  Russian  Setter  is,  however,  clearly  a  distinct  variety; 
and  it  is  a  little  remarkable  that  this  race  has  never  been  des- 
cribed in  any  American  work,  and  that  Mr.  Youatt,  and  his 
editor.  Dr.  Lewis,  seem  to  be  alike  unawar  j  of  its  existence. 

It  is  rather  taller  than  the  English  dog,  and  is  very  muscular 
and  bony.     The  head  is  very  njuch  shorter  and  rounder  than 
that  of  any  other  Setter,  and  is  covered  with  such  a  fleece  of 
coarse  woolly  hair,  that  unless  it  is  clipped  away  from  the  brows, 
the  animal  can  scarcely  see.     The  whole  body  is  covered  bv  a 
coat  of  long,  thick,  woolly  fleece,  hanging  in  elf-locks  knotted 
together,  of  many  inches  in  length,  as  curly,  though  six  times  as 
long,  as  those  of  the  Water  Poodle.     Its  olfactory  powers  are 
of  the  very  highest  order,  its  docility  and  sagacity  unequalled, 
and  its  courage  in  facing  briars  or  water,  its  endurance  of  cold 
and  fatigue,  are  such  as  to  entitle  it,  in  my  opinion,  to  the  first 
place  of  the  whole  race.     It  makes  an  admirable  retriever,  and 
would,  I  think,  suit  this  country  beyond  any  dog  with  which 
I  am  acquainted,  though  I  have  never  seen  one  in  America.     It 
is  less  handsome  than  the  English  and  Irish  breeds,  but  its  qua- 


320 


FBANK    FOUESTKr's    FIELD   SfORTS. 


litu.s  nro  fii-Bt-rato.  Tl.oy  me  more  common  in  tl.o  Nonl.  than 
in  the  South  of  Knghuul,  mul  are  much  used  on  the  moruH.  'J'h„ 
Duke  of  Devonshiio  had,  when  I  was  in  Knghmd,  and  I  h.-lievo 
keeps  to  thin  day,  this  Hue  variety  in  its  purity  ;  and  in  my  hoy- 
hornl,  my  father,  the  hite  Dean  of  Manchester,  had  som.,  excel- 
lent .logs  „f  ,hc,  Russian  breed,  one  of  which,  Charon,  was  the 
best  dog,  far  or  i>ear.  over  which  I  ever  have  drawn  a  trigger 

As  the  ex.eHence  of  the  Setter  or  Pointer  is  a  moote.l  .jues- 
tn.n.  and  one  of  great  utility  and  importance  to  the  sportsman 
I  am  not  willing  to  rely  solely  on  my  own  judgment  therein,  and 
have,  on  this  account,  extracted  from  the  American  edition  of 
Youaft,  Dr.  Lewis' opinion  of  the  merith  op  the  Setter,  com- 

PAKEI)   WITH  THOSE  OP   THE   PoiNTER. 

^  "  It  cannot  for  a  moment  ho  douhted,"  he  says,  ♦'  that  the 
better  has  superior  advantages  to  the  ?„i„ter.  for  hunting  over 
our  uncleared  country,  although  the  Pointer  has  many  .jualities 
that  recommend  him  to  the  sportsman,  that  the  Setter  d(,e3  not 
possess.     In  the  first  place,  the  extreme  hardiness  and  swiftness 
of  foot,  natural  to  the  Setter,  enables  him   to  get  over  much 
more  ground  than  the  Pointer,  in  the  same  space  of  time.    Their 
feet  also,  being  more  hard  and  firm,  are  not  so  liable  to  become 
sore  from  contact  with  our  frozen  ground.     The  ball-pads  being 
well  protected   by  the  Spaniel  toe-tufts,   are  le.s8  likely   to  be 
wounded  by  the   thorns  and  burs  with   which   our  woods  are 
crowded  during  the  winter  season.     His  natural  enthusiasm  for 
hunting  coupled  with  his  superior  physical  powers,  enables  him 
to  stand  much  more  work  than  the  Pointer,  and  oftentimes  he 
appears  quite  fresh  up.m  a  long-continued  hunt,  when  the  other 
will  be  found  drooping  and  inattentive. 

"  The  long,  thick  fur  of  the  Setter,  enables  him  to  wend  his 
way  through  briary  thickets  without  injury  to  himself,  when  a 
similar  atiempt  on  the  part  of  a  P.  inter,  would  result  in  his 
ears,  tail  and  body  being  lacerated  and  streaming  with  blood 

"  On  the  other  hand,  the  Pointer  is  superior  to  the  Setter  in 
retaining  his  acquired  powers  for  hunting,  and  not  being  natu- 
rally  enthusiastic  in  pursuit  of  game,  he  is  more  easily  broken 
and  kept  in  proper  bubjectioii. 


CI'LAND   SHOOTINO. 


321 


Tho  bettor  froquoi.tly  requires  a  partial  rohroakin^  at  tl,e 

o,„n,encemcnt  of  each  HeuHon.  i„  hin  youu^.r  days,  owing  to 

the  natural  oagorncss  with  which  ho  roHu.nIs  the  sport      The 

.o.esH.ty  of  tins,  however,  diminishes  with  age.  as    ",0    hara" 

-  an     ha...ts  of  the  d  ,g  .....no  .ore  settied.'and  then  SLl 

ake  then   u.to  tho  Hold,  with  a  perfect  assurance  of  their  be- 

i'avn.g  quite  as  well  ou   the  first  hunt  of  the  season   as  tho 

8  aunchcst  Pointer  would. 

in  lu^]lT-T  '""'""'  ""'^  "'«'^'"^'-"'  P'>^«r«  "f  the  Pointer 
nessed  a.  the  procp.tato  running  of  tho  Setter,  who  winds  tho 
game  and  frequently  overruns  it.  in  his  great  anxiety  to  col 
up  with  ,t.     But  tins  occasional  fault  on  tho  part  of  the  Setter 

Z'l  :fiT-'rn^  '^''^ ''''-'  '^'-^'^y  "^^-«  ^'-  e 

than^hP  •  ^^"^™/«^"»«  ™»ch  more  water  while  hunting 
than  tho  Pomter.  owing  to  their  thick  covering  of  fur.  encou 
ragmg  a  greater  amount  of  insensible  perspiration  to  fly  ofl" 
than  tho  thm  and  short  dress  of  tho  Pointer.  Consequently  they 
are  better  calculated  to  hunt  in  tho  coldest  seasons  tin  o a r ly  n 
our  falls,  which  are  frequently  quite  dry  and  warm  ^ 

"A  striking  instance  of  this  fact  came  under  our  own  imme- 
dmte  observation  this  fall,  when  shooting  in  a  range  of  coZ^ 
thinly  settled,  and  uncommonly  dry.  The  day  being  wa™ 
and  the  birds  scarce,  the  dogs  suffered  greatly  from  thirstTn™' 
much  that  a  very  fi,.e  Setter,  of  uncommon  Wtom.  waT  Cd 
o  give  up  entirely,  completely  prostrated,  foaming  at  tho  mouth 
r.  the  most  alarming  manner,  breathing  heavily,  and  voZnl 
from  time  to  time  a  thick  frothy  mucus.  vomiting 

"  His  prostration  of  both  muscular  and  nervous  powers  was 
so  great  that  ho  could  neither  smell  nor  take  the  slightest  nolo 
of  a  bird,  although  placed  at  his  nose.  Ho  could  baLly  man  go 
^o  drag  one  leg  after  tho  other,  stopping  ,0  rest  every  few  mo! 
meuts.  and  we  were  fearful  that  we  should  be  obliged  to  shoul- 
<^-  and  carry  him  to  a  farm-house,  a  considerable  distance  off 
However,  he  succeeded,  with  much  difficulty,  i„   reaching  the 


11 

i;" 


322 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


well,  where  he  greedily  drank  several  pints  of  water,  adminis 
tered  to  him  with  caution. 

"  He  recovered  almost  immediately,  gave  me  a  look  of  thanks, 
and  was  off  to  the  fields  in  a  few  moments,  where  he  soon  found 
a  fine  covey  of  birds. 

"  The  Pointer,  his  associate  in  the  day's  work,  and  a  much 
less  hardy  dog,  stood  the  hunt  remarkably  well,  and  seemed  to 
suffer  little  or  no  inconvenience  from  the  want  of  water.  The 
Setter  has  natural  claims  upon  the  sportsman  and  man  gene, 
rally,  in  his  affectionate  disposition,  and  attachment  to  his  mas- 
ter, and  the  many  winning  manners  he  exhibits  towards  those 
by  whom  he  is  caressed. 

"  The  Pointer  displays  but  little  fondness  for  those  by  whom 
he  is  sun-ounded,  and  hunts  equally  as  well  for  a  stranger  as  his 
master." 


In  this  testimony  in  behalf  of  the  Setter,  on  the  part  of  an 
American  gentleman,  of  scientific,  no  less  than  sportsmanlike 
attainments,  I  shall  add  the  following  quotation  from  "Craven's 
Recreations  in  Shooting,"  a  very  clever  English  work — in  which, 
by  the  way,  I  find  myself  quoted,  without  credit,  as  an  American 
sportsman,  concerning  our  field  sports — in  which  the  question  is 
fully  debated,  and  the  excellence  of  tlie  Russian  Setter  upheld 
by  competent  authority. 

"  Having  now  disposed,"  says  Craven,  "  of  that  which  by  a 
slight  license,  may  be  termed  the  poetry  of  shooting,  before  en- 
tering upon  its  mere  household  stuff,  allusion  comes  in  aptly  to 
its  intellectual  agents.  Although  as  a  principle,  we  have  re- 
commended the  use  of  the  Pointer  in  especial  to  the  young  dis- 
ciple of  the  trigger,  the  first  place,  among  shooting  dogs,  must 
be  awarded  to  the  Setter.  In  style  and  dash  of  ranging,  in 
courage,  and  capacity  of  covering  ground  ;  in  beauty  of  form, 
and  grace  of  attitude  ;  in  variety  of  color,  and  elegance  of  clotli- 
ing,  no  animal  of  his  species  will  at  all  l^ar  comparison  with 
him.  As  the  respective  merits  of  the  Pointer  and  the  Setter, 
however,  have  long  been  a  mooted  question  among  sportsmen, 


PPLAND   SHOOTING.  303 

we  have  much  pleasure  iu  laying  before  the  reader  the  opinion 

ff  the  H  V^'"''  '^  ^'-  '^'^"^'  *^«  well-known  gunmakir 

of  the  Haymarket.  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  subroLed 
letter  to  that  interesting  inquiry  :—  ,  suDjomed 

of  thfri"f  ^^'^f^^^^^^'-^'''"  oxperience  in  breeding  from  some 

the!..         rf '  ^"  ^"^'"•'''  ^^«'^"^'  -'I  ScotlanLairst 
hem  those  of  the  late  Duke  of  Gordon,  Captain  Ross  Mr  O 
ba  deston.  and  other  celebrated  sportsmen ;  and  havfng  alslp^;; 
many  years,  and  much  money,  in  the  endeavor  to  prodLe  a  sune 

Pointers  bv  st«Hn     \       r^'"  *^"^  "'^  ^P^"'""«  concerning 
Pointers  are  better  for  Partrido-o*  al,^^*- 

as  though  they  were  walking  for  a  wa4r  and^r  .     ' 

than  they  generally  do,  they  would  do  more  justice  Lt 
selves,  their  dogs,  and  their  preserves      fTw  Pn    . 
work  on  the  moors-where^he  elm  o'^sTXT  ^t 
had-unless  they  have  been  bred,  or  have  been  regular?,  Hd  • 
on  them      I  know  many  gentlemen  who  greatly  prefer  them 
when  so  bred,  to  Setters ;  but  Scotch  Pointers  arJrotto  HghT; 

that  tXn:^^:,';^^.^^^^^^^^    '--  -  ^-^"-^^  ^°^.  --i 

in  America     The  .J^^Z  H    k  "-  '  *''""''  ""'"^  ""  ^'"•'"■'^^« 

-hooting,  were  q;     Itu       :  ,7'  ""k  '^  '"'^''"'*'^  ^^'''-'''^  ^°  Q-^^ 

in  the  ascendant.  ^'  "  '''"'''  '"°^«  ^han  anywher^ 


384 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


bred  as  south-country  dogs,  and  therefore  more  calculated  for 
rough  work.     Many  are  crossed  with  the  Foxhound,  which 
gives  them  speed  and  courage  as  well  as  hardness  of  foot ;  but 
the  produce  of  the  first  cross  is  generally  tco  high-mettled  to  be 
managed  with  ease,  being  difficult  to  break  from  running  Hares, 
or  to  dotvn^charge  ;  and,  for  the  most  part,  very  hard-mouthed! 
You  may  reckon  on  six  days  out  of  every  twelve  being  rainy 
in  the  Highlands ;  the  wet,  and  injuries  'from  burnt  heather, 
&c.,  cause  the  Pointer  soon  to  become  foot-sore,  particularly 
between  the  toes,  as  he  has  no  hair  to  protect  his  feet,  like  the 
Setter.     High-bred  Pointers  are  also  delicate  in  their  appetites 
and  will  not  eat  the  Scotch  meal  at  firet.     Gentlemen  should 
have  plenty  of  greaves  sent  to  their  shooting  quarters  to  mix 
with  it,  as  meat  can  seldom  be  had  in  the  remote  Grouse  coun- 
tnes.     They  should  give  orders  that  their  dogs  should  be  fed 
immediately  on  their  return  from  the  hills,  and  their  feet  care- 
fully washed  with  salt  and  water  :  indeed,  if  gentlemen  saw  to 
those  things  themselves,  they  would  find  their  account  in  it, 
observing  that  such  dogs  as  would  not  feed  well  were  never 
taken  out  the  following  day.     '  A  stitch  in  time  saves  nine,'  is 
a  good  wholesome  maxim. 

" '  I  now  proceed  to  speak  of  the  Setter.     The  Irish  Setters 
are  very  beautiful  both  iu  and  out  of  the  field  ;  but  so  hot-head- 
ed, that  unless  always  at  work,  and  kept  under  very  strict 
disciphne,  they  constantly  spoil  sport  for  the  first  hour,  frequent- 
ly the  best  in  the  whole  day.     I  have  shot  to  many,  and  found 
them  all  pretty  much  alike.     I  had  one,  the  histoiy  of  whose  bad 
and  good  qualities  would  fill  half-a-dozen  pages.     As  long  as  I 
kept  him  to  regular  hard  work,  a  belter  never  entered  a  field  • 
I  refused  forty  guineas  for  him,  and  shot  him  a  month  afterwards 
for  his  bad  deeds.     I  bred  from  him,  out  of  an  English  Setter 
bitch,  and  some  of  the  produce  turned  out  very  good  •  cue  of 
them  I  shot  to  myself  for  eight  seasons  :  my  reasons  for  parting 
with  him  I  will  presently  explain.     Unless  to  throw  more  dash 
into  my  kennel,  I  should  never  be  tempted   again  to  become 
master  of  an  Irish  Setter      Frequently,  Partridges  are  driven 


tTPLAND   SHOOTING. 


325 


into  gorse  or  low  cover,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  which  few 
Pointers  will  face.  I  know  it  is  not  the  fashion  to  shoot  to  dogs 
in  cover ;  but  most  true  sportsmen  prefer  shooting  five  brace  of 
pheasants  to  Setters  or  mute  Spaniels,  to  fifty  brace  to  beaters. 
In  the  latter  case  you  stand  sometimes  an  hour  together  without 
getting  a  shot;  and  then  they  rise  a  dozen  at  a  time,  Uke  bam- 
door  fowls,  and  as  many  are  killed  in  a  few  houra  as  would  serve 
for  weeks  of  fair  shooting. 

" '  In  the  season  of  1839  I  was  asked  for  a  week's  shooting  into 
Somersetshire,  by  an  old  friend,  whose  science  in  eveiything 
connected  with  shooting  is  first-rate.     Then,  for  the  first  time 
for  many  years,  I  had  my  dogs,  English  Setters,  beaten  hollow. 
His    breed   was   from  pure    Russian   Setters,  crossed   by  an 
English  Setter  dog,  which  some  years  ago  made  a  sensation  in 
the  sporting  world,  from  his  extraordinaiy  peifomances ;  he 
belonged  to  the  late  Joseph  Manton,  and  had  been  sold  for  a 
hundred  guineas.     Although  I  could  not  but  remark  the  excel- 
lence of  my  friend's  dogs,  yet  it  struck  me,  as  I  had  shot  over 
my  own  old  favorite  Setter— who  had  himself  beat  many  good 
ones,  and  never  before  been  beaten— for  eight  years,  that  his 
nose  could  not  have  been  right,  f.r  the  Russians  got  three  points 
to  his  one.     I  therefore  resolved  to  tiy  some  othera  against 
them  the  next  season  ;  and  having  heard  a  gentleman,  well 
known  as  an  excellent  judge,  speak  of  a  brace  of  extraordinary 
dogs  he  had  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  Yorkshire  mooi-s, 
with  his  recommendation  I  purchased  them.     I  shot  to  them  in 
August  1840,  and  their  beauty  and  style  of  perfonnance  were 
spoken  of  m  terms  of  praise  by  a  conespondent  to  a  sporting 
paper.     In  September  I  took  them  into  Somereetshire,  fully 
anticipating  that  I  should  give  the  Russians  the  go-by;  but  I 
was  again  disappointed.     I  found,  from  the  wide  ranging  of  my 
dogs,  and  the  noise  consequent  upon  their  going  so  fast  through 
Ktubbles  and  tumips— particularly  in  the   middle  of  the  day, 
when  the  sun  was  powerful,  and  there  was  but  little  scent— that 
they  constantly  put  up  their  birds  out  of  distance;  or,  if  they 
did  get  a  point,  that  the  game  would  rarely  lie  till  we  could  get 


« ■•'I  I 


326 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


■J 
^1 


to  It.  The  Russians,  on  the  contrary,  being  much  closer 
rangers,  quartering  their  ground  steadily— heads  and  tails  up— 
and  possessing  perfection  of  nose,  in  ex.reme  heat,  wet,  or  col<l 
enabled  us  to  bag  double  the  head  of  game  that  mine  did! 
IN  or  did  they  lose  one  solitary  wounded  bird;  whereas  with 
my  own  dogs,  I  lost  six  brace  the  first  two  days'  Partridge 
shooting,  the  most  of  them  in  standing  corn. 

"'My  old  frieiid  and  patron,  having  met  with  a  severe  acci- 
dent  while  hunting,  determined  to  go  to  Scotland  for  the  next 
three  years.     Seeing  that  my  dogs  were   well  calculated  for 
Orrouse  shooting,  as  they  had  been  broken  and  shot  to  on  the 
moo,«,  and  being  aware  of  my  anxiety  to  possess  the  breed  of 
his  Russians,  he  very  kindly  offered  to  exchange  them  for  mine 
with  a  promise  I  would  preserve  a  brace  of  Russian  puppies 
for  him.     Although  I  had  refused  fifty  guineas  for  my  brace  I 
inost  gladly  closed  with  his  offer.     Since  then  I  have  huntLd 
them  m   company  with  several  dogs  of  high  character,  but 
nothing  that  I  have  yet  seen  could  equal  them.     If  not  taken 
out  ^,r  six  months,  they  are  perfectly  steady,  which  is  a  quality 
rarely  to  be  met  with.    Every  sportsman  must  know,  that  the 
fewer  dogs  he  can  do  his  work  wi^h  properly,  the  better;  for 
It  they  are  m  condition,  they  cannot  be  too  irequently  hunted  • 
and  their  tempers,  style  of  working,  &c.,  become  more  familiar 
to  him.    On  this  the  whole  comfort  of  shooting  depends.     Upon 
these  grounds  I  contend  that,  for  all  kinds  of  shooting  therefore 
there  is  nothing  equal  to  the  Russian,  or  half-bred  Russian  Set- 
ter, m  nose,  sagacity,  and  every  other  qualification  that  a  doc 
ought  to  possess.      It  may  appear  an  exaggeration,  but  it  is 
my  opinion,  in   which  I  am   supported  by  many  of  the  first 
sportsmen  m  England,  that  there  is  not  one  keeper  in  fifty  that 
knows  how  to  manage  and  break  a  dog  efficiently.     It  is  a 
common  practice  for  k^epei-s  to  take  their  dogs  out  for  an  hour 
or  two,  twice  or  thrice  a  week,  morning  or  evening,  just  before 
the  commencement  of  the  season-what  would  be  thought  of 
training  a  hoi^e  i^™  that  way,  for  a  race  over  the  flat,  or  a  ste.- 
ple-chase  ?     Hard  and  constant  work  is  as  necessary  for  a  dog 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


327 


that  has  to  hunt  from  moiiiing  to  •  night,  and  frequently  foi 
several  successive  days,  as  for  a  race-horse.  He  should  he 
taken  out  two  or  three  hours  daily,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  to 
use  him  to  the  heat,  for  three  or  four  weeks  before  the  season 
begins ;  and  let  me  observe  in  conclusion  ;  that  if  his  master 
were  to  adopt  a  similar  course,  he  would  have  good  cause  to 
rejoice  in  the  precaution  before  the  end  of  his  first  week's 
shooting.' 

"  Another  gentleman,  a  large  breeder  of  sporting  dogs,  thus 
answered  our  queries  as  to  the  kind  of  animal  best  suited  to  the 
general  purpose  of  shooting  : — 

"  '  I  have  tried  all  sorts,  and,  at  last,  fixed  upon  a  well-bred 
Setter  as  the  most  useful.  I  say  well-bred,  for  not  many  of 
the  dogs  with  feathered  sterns,  which  one  sees  now-a-days,  are 
worthy  the  name  of  Setter.  Pointer  fanciers  object  to  Setters 
on  account  of  their  requiring  more  water ;  but  there  are  gene- 
rally sufficient  springs  and  peat-holes  on  the  moors  for  them ; 
and,  even  in  the  early  part  of  September,  a  horse-pond  or  ditch 
is  to  be  met  with  often  enough.  For  cover,  or  Snipe-shooting, 
the  Setter  is  far  superior,  facing  the  thorns  in  the  cover,  and  the 
wet  in  the  bogs,  without  coming  to  heel,  shivering  like  a  pig  in 
the  ague.  I  have  always  found,  too,  that  Setters,  when  well 
broke,  are  finer  tempered,  and  not  so  easily  cowed  as  Pointers. 
Should  they  get  an  unlucky  undeserved  kick,  Don,  the  Setter, 
wags  his  tail,  and  forgets  it  much  sooner  than  Carlo,  the 
Pointer.  My  shooting  lying  near  the  moors,  takes  in  every 
description  of  country,  and  I  always  find  that,  after  a  good 
rough  day,  the  Setter  will  out-tire  the  Pointer,  though,  perhaps, 
not  start  quite  so  flash  in  the  morning. 

"  '  I  always  teach  one,  at  least,  of  my  dogs  to  bring  his  game, 
which  SLives  a  world  of  trouble,  both  in  and  out  of  cover,  but 
never  allow  him  to  stir  for  the  bird  until  after  loading.  Should 
any  of  these  remarks  prove  of  service,  I  shall  feel  most  happy 
in  having  assisted  a  brother  sportsman.'  " 

To  this  I  will  only  add,  that  I  have  both  seen  and  owned 
Setters,  which  on  the  first  day  of  the  season  were  as  steady  and 


!  ■•m\ 


32S 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


as  perfectly  under  command,  as  on  the  last ;  that  I  have  seen 
them  tried,  day  in  and  day  out,  for  weeks  together,  with  the 
most  admirable  imported  Pointers,  and  that  they  proved  alwnys 
equal  to  them;  in  late  Snipe-shooting,  when  the  water  is  cold 
and  skimmed  with  ice,  or  m  autumn  shooting  in  thorny  and 
bnary  covert,  they  beat  them  out  of  sight. 

I  may  mention  here  a  brace  which  I  possessed,  and  over 
which  I  shot  eight  seasons,  never  allowing  any  pei-son  to  hunt 
them  on  a  smgle  occasion  after  their  leaving  the  breaker's  hands 
except  myself,  and  keeping  them  at  steady  work.     One  was  a 
liver  and  white  English  dog,  broke  by  Mr.  Sandford,  of  New. 
Jersey,  whom  I  have  mentioned  before ;  the  other  a  red  Irish 
Setter,  with  a  white  ring  and  four  white  stockings,  broke  by 
Dilke.     They  were  both  undeniable  dogs,  but  the  liver  and 
white  was  the  best  retriever  J  ever  saw.     The  test  of  their  ex- 
cellence  is  in  the  fact  that  in  1836,  the  late  Mr.  Peter  G.  Barker 
of  New-York  offered  me,  and  I  refused,  eight  hundred  dollars' 
for  the  brace.     They  had  cost  me  two  hundred,  and  I  had  shot 
over  them   four  seasons  afterward,  when  the  price   was  bid 
I  have  only  farther  to  say  that  I  never  regretted  the  refusal,  as 
I  never  saw  in  all  respects  a  brace  of  dogs  so  perfect. 
I  shall  now  proceed  to  the  Pointer. 


THE    POINTER 


It  is  conceded  that  this  animal  is  the  offspring  of  the  two 
ancient  races  known  as  sagaces,  or  intelligent,  and  pugnaces  or 
heUkosi,  or  wai-like,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think,  myself,  that  his 
share  of  the  latter  blood,  is  even  greater  than  is  generally  im- 
agined.  His  intelligence,  except  so  far  as  indicated  by  his 
power  of  scenting  his  game,  is  of  rather  a  low  order,  and  though 
docile  and  easily  commanded,  he  is  not  generally  sagacious,  or 
affectionate.  Neither  his  temper  nor  other  qualities,  except  in 
the  field,  greatly  recommend  him;  but  for  the  steady  pursuit  of 


TTPLAJfD   SHOOTING. 


329 


h,  game  in  the  open  plain,  his  great  caution  in  not  over- 

Zd2     :  ^'''  '"P""''"'  ^^  "'^^"""^  h«^*  -»d  thirst, 

and  his  retentive  memory  of  what  he  has  been  taught,  unqual 
.fied  by  any  headstrong  or  impotuous  dash,  rendertim.  for  the 
pursuit   of  some   species  of  animals   and  for  some  localities 
unnvalled.     Of  the  latter  there  are  f.^  in  this  countrr  The 
sandy  Grouse  baxrens  of  Long  Island,  Martha's  Vineyard  and 
he    New-Jersey  Pine-grounds,  while  there    were  Grouse  on 
them  were  well  adapted  to  the  display  of  his  peculiar  and  char- 
ac  enstic  excellencies.     The  Grouse  mountain's  of  Pennsylvan^ 
arc  so  rocky  and  so  much  beset  with  stubs  that  his  bare  feet 
unless  protected  with  buckskin  boots,  through  which  the  claws' 
must  be  suffe  ed  to  protn.de.  will  not  enable  him  to  bear  the 
wear  and  tear  of  daily  work.     Some  of  the  western  praries 
which  are  dry  and  deficient  of  water,  are  well  suited  for  him 

z^Z:^  ^"' ''-''  °^^^^^^^^"  '•  -^  ^^-'  ^«  ^«  p^-d. 

of  whth  !l/T'  '^T  '''  '^'  ^'''^'  ''^^'^'^  ^"^  conspicuous. 
Liet  "'''"''  ''"  "^"^^'^^'  ^"^  --  «f  ^he  latter  suf: 

ficien  ly  peculiar  or  different  either  in  appearance  or  qualifica- 
tions to  ment  any  especial  description  or  notice. 

These  two  breeds  are  the  Old  Spa^sh  Pointer,  which  is  the 
ongm  and  type  of  the  race,  and  the  improved,  or  English 

pZ^P         '^"  ^"""'  '^'  P^'^"^--.  and  of  the  latter,  the 
blench  Pointer,  are    coarser   and  inferior  varieties.-all  the     - 
points    attributed   to   the    last-named    dog    as    characteristic, 
namely,  large  head,  pendent  ears,  and  thick  tail,  being  common 
to  every  coarse,  ill-bred  English  dog. 

naL?'f?'^''"  Pointer."  says  Mr.  Youatt.   "originally  a 
native  of  Spam,  was  once  considered  to  be  a  valuable  dog.    He 

itbs  tl  T  "":  y'  '"'  "^^  '^•^  '^^^^  -d  ^-vy'in  his 
hmbs  and  had  widely  spread  ugly  feet,  exposing  him  to  fre- 
ciuent  ameness.  His  muzzle  and  head  were  large.  coiTespond- 
ng  with  the  acuteness  of  his  smell.  His  ears  were  large'  and 
f^endent.  and  his  body  ill-formed.  He  was  naturally  an  litem  • 
pered  dog,  growling  at  the  hand  that  would  caress  him.  even 


830 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


although  it  were  his  master's.  He  stood  steadily  to  his  birds  ; 
but  it  was  difficult  to  break  him  of  chasing  the  Hare.  He  was 
deficient  in  speed.  His  redeeming  quality  was  his  excellent 
scent,  unequalled  in  any  other  kind  of  dog. 

•'  To  convince  our  readers  of  the  value  of  this  particulai 
breed,  we  may  mention  the  very  singular  sale  of  Col.  Thornton's 
dog  Dash,  who  was  purchased  by  Sir  Richard  Symons  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds'  worth  of  Champagne  and  Burgundy, 
a  hogshead  of  Claret,  and  an  elegant  gun  and  another  Pointer, 
with  a  stipulation  that  if  any  accident  befell  the  dog,  he  was  to 
be  returned  to  his  former  owner  for  fifty  guineas.  Dash  unfor- 
tunately  broke  his  leg,  and  in  accordance  with  the  agreement 
of  sale,  was  returned  to  the  Colonel,  who  considered  him  a  for- 
tunate acquisition  as  a  stallion  to  breed  from.  See  Blain  or 
Daniel." 

This  animal,  which  was  once  considered  very  valuable,  is  now 
entirely  superseded  by  the  improved,  or  English  dogs.  He  was 
often  what  is  vulgarly  called  double-nosed,  having  a  deep  fur- 
row between  the  nostrils;  and  to  this  peculiarity,  I  have  heard 
the  excellence  of  their  scenting  powers  attributed,  of  course  ab- 
surdly. Mr.  Youatt,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  surprised  to  see,  at- 
tributes the  dejiciency  of  the  same  powers,  in  a  certain  French 
breed,  having  the  like  deformity,  to  the  same  cause.  I  quite 
agiee  with  Dr.  Lewis,  in  regarding  any  such  reason,  whether 
for  good  or  evil  qualities,  as  wholly  visionary. 

Ugliness,  want  of  speed,  and  ill  temper,  are  causes  which 
have  banished  the  Spanish  Pointer  from  the  kennel  of  the  true 
sportsman.  More  of  the  blood  is  to  be  found  in  the  Pointer 
commonly  used  in  this  country,  than  in  the  English  breed,  the 
points  and  characteristics  of  which  are  well  laid  down  as  follows, 
by  Dr.  Lewis. 

"  The  English  Pointer  will  now  claim  more  paiticulariy  our 
attention.  It  is  quite  useless  to  go  into  a  general  description  of 
an  animal  of  whom  we  have  already  said  much,  and  with  whom 
we  are  all  familiar  ;  but  we  will  endeavor  to  mention  the  most 
striking  points  of  the  species,  which  marks  can  be  referred  to  as 
guides  in  the  purchase  of  a  dog. 


UPLAND    SHOOTING. 


331 


"  It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  put  on  paper,  in  a  manner  satisfac 
tory  either  to  the  reader  or  writer,  the  peculiarities  of  any  ani- 
mal,  whereby  he  may  judged  pure  or  mixed.  However,  there 
are,  generally,  some  few  points  in  each  species,  that  can  be  se- 
lected  as  proofs  of  their  genuineness  and  ability  to  perfoi-mcer- 
tain  actions  peculiar  to  the  race. 

"  But,  after  all,  more  reliance  must  be  placed  upon  the  good 
faith  of  the  seller,  or  the  previous  knowledge  of  the  strain  from 
which  the  purchaser  selects— and  what  is  better  than  either, 
from  actual  obsei-vation  in  the  field;  all  of  which  precautions' 
may,  nevertheless,  prove  abortive,  and  our  dog  be  worthless. 

"  As  regards  the  size  of  the  English  Pointer,  we  may  say, 
that  he  averages  in  length  about  three  feet,  from  the  tip  of  the 
muzzle  to  the  base  of  the  tail,  and  from  twenty-two  to  twenty- 
SIX  inches  high.  His  head  not  bulky,  nor  too  narrow,  the  fron- 
tal  sinuses  largely  developed.  . 

"  The  muzzle  long,  and  rather  tapering,  the  nostrils  large 
and  well  open,  the  ear  slightly  erect,  not  over  long,  and  the  tip 
tnangular  J  if  too  pendent,  large  and  rounded  at  the  tip,  the -e 
18  too  much  of  the  hound  present.  The  eyes  lively,  but  not  too 
prominent;  the  neck  rather  long,  and  not  over  thick,  the  chest 
broad,  the  limbs  large  and  muscular;  the  paws  strong,  hard, 
and  wide.  The  body  and  loins  thin,  rather  than  bulky,  the  hind 
quarters  broad,  and  the  limbs  in  the  same  proportion  with  the 
tore  members ;  the  tail  long  and  tapering." 

To  this  there  is  very  little  to  be  added,  except  that  the  higher 
the  breed,  the  shorter,  the  sleeker,  and  the  more  satiny  the  skin 
and  the  thinner  the  ear.     Any  tendency  to  long  hair  about  the' 
stern  or  legs,  hints  loudly  at  a  Setter  cross,  which  improves  nei- 
ther the  temper  nor  the  qualities  of  the  dog. 

Like  Setters,  Pointers  are  of  all  colore,  and  I  know  not  that 
any  color  has  the  preference  ;  but  as  in  the  Setter  I  should  dis- 
trust  hver  color,  which  I  regard  as  properly  a  Pointer  color,  so 
m  the  Pomter  I  look  with  suspicion  on  red  or  yellow,  that  being 
a  Setter  or  Spaniel  tint.  There  is  a  Very  pure  and  high  strain 
ot  Pointers,  principally  white,  with  liver-colored  ears  and  faces 


332 


F&ANX   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


having  a  light  tan  spot  over  each  eye,  and  a  tan  sl.adowing 
round  the  muzzle,  and  a  few  liver  spots  on  the  body.  No  tint 
is  preferable  to  this.  Black  and  tan  is  an  undeniable,  though 
uncommon  color  for  the  Pointer,  coming  probably  from  Fox- 
liound  blood ;  and  pure  black  dogs  are  frequent  and  good.  I  dis- 
like  a  black  and  white  spotted  Pointer,  it  has  a  currish  look,  to 
say  the  least  of  it. 

The  more  highly  bred  any  animal  is,  the  better  he  will  be, 
I  believe,  in  all  respects.  The  Pointer's  skin  becomes  infi-' 
nitely  tenderer,  and  his  whole  frame  more  delicate  and  fine- 
drawn, by  high  breeding;  but  so  much  does  he  gain  thereby, 
in  pluck  and  courage,  that  I  have  seen  pure-blooded  dogs  of  this' 
strain  tearing  their  way  through  cat-briar  brakes,  literally  bleed- 
ing  at  every  pore,  and  whimpering  with  pain,  while  great, 
coarae-bred,  hairy  brutes,  of  six  times  their  apparent  {)ower  of 
frame,  and  capacities  of  endurance,  slunk  away  like  cui-s,  as 
they  were,  unable  to  face  the  thorns. 

In  every  animal,  from  the  man,  in  whom  I  believe  it  tells  the 
most,  down  to  the  bullock  and  the  Berkshire  hog,  I  am  an  im- 
plicit believer  in  the  efficacy  of  blood  and  breeding  to  develop  all 
qualities,  especially  courage  to  do,  and  courage  to  bear — as  well 
as  to  produce  the  higliest  and  most  delicate  neiTous  organiza- 
tion ;  and  I  would  as  willingly  have  a  cur  in  my  shooting  ken- 
nel, as  a  mule  in  my  racing  stable,  if  I  had  one. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  notice  briefly,  as  becomes  the  scanti- 
ness of  his  use  in  this  country, 


THE    COCKING    SPANIEL. 


This  beautiful,  intelligent,  and  useful  dog,  which,  like  the 
Pointer,  is,  as  his  name  indicates,  probably  of  Spanish  origin,  is 
very  little  known  or  used  in  this  country,  except  as  a  pet  and 
plaything  for  ladies ;  and  yet  there  is  no  country  in  the  world 
for  which,  from  the  gi-eat  prevalence  of  woodland  over  open 


UPLAND    SHOOTINQ. 


8S3 


Bhoot.ng.  the  great  thickness  and  severity  of  the  covert,  and  the 
pecuhar  species  of  game,  it  would  be  more  useful.  There  are 
many  varieties  of  this  beautiful,  active,  and  industrious  little 
dog  but  the  best  and  most  adapted  for  this  country  is  the  lar™ 
Cockmg  Spaniel,  or  Spnng.r.  which  is  found  in  the  greatest 
perfection  m  Sussex. 

This  dog  which  is  probably  the  original  stock  of  the  S.tter. 
cannot  be  better  described  than  as  resembling  a  Setter,  in  the 

bleTa     "^rrr?.^""'^'  P"""'"^"''  «^-«-'«ff^-d  Ponv,  resem- 
bles a  well-bred  horse.'    It  is  very  strong  and  bony  fo;  its  si^e, 

and  has  great  industry,  indefatigable  spirit,  and  indomitable  cou- 
rage-nay !  its  faults  partake  of  these  latter  q.ialities,  as  it  is 
wont  to  be  rash,  impetuous,  and  headstrong.  One  of  the  great- 
est  drawbacks  to  its  excellence  in  England,  would  not  exist  in 
this  country ;  I  mean  its  propensity  to  chase  Hares,  which 
abound  in  many  preserves  there  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  are 
oouncing  ,ip  at  every  step,  and  the  Spaniels  are  yelping  and 
yaffing  after  them  all  the  time.  Here  the  Hare  is  comparatively 
a  rare  animal,  and  in  this  respect  the  temptation  of  the  Spaniel 
to  wildness.  would  be  very  greatly  diminished  in  the  United 
Estates,  or  in  Canada. 

The  head  of  the  Spaniel,  and  especially  the  nose,  is  propor- 
tionably  much  shorter  than  that  .f  the  Setter,  the  frontal  sinuses 
more  fully  developed,  the  eye  larger  and  more  prominent,  the 
ears  much  longer  and  more  curly,  some  so  long  that  they  lite- 
rally seem  as  If  they  were  intended  "  to  sweep  away  the  morn- 
ing  dew. 

Their  coats  are  altogether  longer,  and  more  curly,  the  tails  not 
merely  feathered,  but  bushy,  and  the  legs  thickly  fringed,  even  to 
the  toes. 

^  These  dogs  are  of  all  colors,  but  I  prefer  the  Blenheim  color 
rich  orange  and  white,  with  a  full  moist  eye,  and  coal-black  nose' 
and  palate. 

They  require  great  steadiness,  and  constant  attention,  both  in 
the  breaking,  and  the  hunting  when  broken  ;  but  firmness,  cou- 
pled  with  general  mildness,  and  constancy  of  temper,  with  occa- 


U 


334 


FRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


sional  severity,  will  easily  prevail,  and  i-ender  them  nearer  pp. 
feet.  ' 

As  they  flush  their  game  immediately,  without  standing  .,r 
crouching,  ,t  is  absolutely  necessary  that  they  should  be  un.ler 
perfect  command  ;  thoy  must  never  be  above  ten  or  fifteen  paces 
(hstant  from  the  gun,  and  tl.ey  must  be  trained,  until  it  has  be 
come  their  second  nature  and  instinct,  to  slacken  their  pace,  in- 
stead ot  increasing  it,  when  they  strike  the  trail  of  game,  which 
the  spoilsman  will  learn  by  their  yelp,  or,  if  they  be  of  the  mute 
kind,  by  the  redoubled  feathering  and  flourishing  of  his  bushy 
tail,  and  by  an  oocasional  low,  impatient  whimper. 

This,  and  to  drop  to  shot,  the  instant  the  gun  is  dischai-ged,  is 
all  they  have  necessarily  to  leani ;  although  it  is  a  great  addition 
to  their  worth,  if  they  are  broke  to  retrieve  their  game,  when 
ordered  to  go  on,  ajler  having  dropped  to  »  charge."  This 
dropping  to  charge,  of  infinite  importance  with  all  dogs,  is  even 
more  important  with  the  Sph.nger.  or  Cocking  Spaniel,  than 
with  the  P,„nter,  or  Setter;  for,  wliereas  the  latter  are  taught 
both  by  their  insti.ict  and  their  breaking,  to  stand  or  set  their 
game,  there  is  some  chance  that,  if  they  do  break  in  after  shot 
they  will  still  point  anything  on  which  they  may  chance  to  blun- 
der, while  the  Spaniel  being  broke  to  flush,  if  he  stir  at  all,  will 
indubitably  run  up  everything  that  crosses  his  path. 

For  summer  or  autumn  Cock  shooting,  for  Quail  shooting  in 
heavy  covert,  and  for  Ruffed  Grouse  shooting,  I  am  satisfied 
that  these  little  beauties  would  be  invaluable  in  this  country  • 
and  that  m  many  districts  twice  as  many  head  of  game  migh! 
be  killed  over  them,  in  the  same  space  of  time,  as  over  any 
other  kind  of  dog.  ^ 

I  have  often  wondered  at  the  neglect  of  this  variety  by  sports- 
men  of  this  country,  never  having  met  but  three  gentlemen,  two 
m  the  States  and  one  in  Canada,  who  used  them.  I  hope  to 
succeed  m  importing  a  brace  of  highly-bred,  and  well-broke 
Springers  of  the  large  breed,  this  autumn,  and  to  ePtablish  the 
breed.  Should  I  be  fortunate  in  my  endeavors,  it  will  be  a 
source  of  much  pleasure  to  me  tr  accommodate  sportsmen  de- 


.'3Kv 


UPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


as0 


sirous  of  trying  the  experiment  witK  some  of  the  progeny,  an  J 
with  my  best  advice  and  instructiona  as  to  their  management 
and  use. 

Having  thus  disposed  of  the  three  species  of  dog  used  in  Up- 
land shooting,  I  shall  proceed  shortly  to  lay  down  a  few  jjlain 
and  general  rules,  for  thoir  treatment  in  the  kennel  and  the 
field,  their  condition,  breaking,  and  some  of  their  more  ordinary 
and  dangerous  diseases,  and  then  pass  onward  to  fowl  shooting 
on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic. 


KENNEL    MANAGEMENT. 


The  first  point  in  kennel  management  is  the  kennel  itself,  and, 
for  a  peison  keeping  several  dogs,  the  best  and  most  suitable  to 
this  country  is  an  enclosure  of  pickets,  sufficiently  high  to  ren- 
der it  impossible  for  dogs  even  to  attempt  to  leap  over  them, 
surrounding  a  space  of  ground  the  larger  the  better,  as  the  dogs 
will  then  have  room  enough  to  run  at  speed,  and  to  play  toge- 
ther, which  is  undoubtedly  conducive  to  health.  This  space 
should  be  gravelled,  or  strewed  with  fine  sand,  and  if  it  could 
be  so  contrived  as  to  have  a  channel  of  water  running  through 
it,  that  would  be  a  great  addition,  both  to  the  health  and  com- 
fort of  the  dogs. 

Along  one  side  or  end  of  this  place  should  be  a  shed,  closed 
at  the  back  and  ends,  with  a  shingle  roof,  at  least  ten  feet  deep, 
BO  as  to  afford  a  complete  shelter  from  snow,  rain,  and  sun- 
shine. This  shed,  which  should  be  open  in  front,  must  be 
floored  with  plank,  with  a  moderate  inclination,  so  as  to  allow 
any  moisture  to  drain  off  readily.  The  opening  should  face  the 
south.  Along  the  back  of  this  shed  should  be  ranged  a  row  of 
ordinary  dog-houses  of  pine  plank,  one  for  each  dog.  These 
should  have  no  bottoms,  that  they  may  be  removed,  and  the 
boards  scoured  beneath,  from  time  to  time.  They  should  not  be 
less  than  three  feet  in  lengfh,  by  two  in  breadth,  and  two  feet 
high  at  the  eaves,  by  three  at  the  ridge.     The  smaller  the  aper- 


336 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD    SPORTS. 


ture  the  better,  provided  it  is  big  enough  to  allow  the  ingress 
and  egress  of  the  dog.  The  inside  should  be  whitewashed,  and 
the  very  best  bed  that  can  be  devised  is  fine  pine  shavings,  as  't 
is  as  soft  and  warm  as  any,  and  the  turpentine  which  it  con- 
tains is  the  surest  of  all  antidotes  against  vermin. 

For  persons  living  in  towns,  not  having  the  command  of 
space,  or  keeping  but  a  single  dog,  the  movable  dog-house,  such 
as  I  have  described,  placed  on  a  plank  platform,  and  having  a 
•    post  annexed,  to  which  the  dog  may  be  chained,  will  answer  the 
purpose,  though  if  a  dog  is  kept  constantly  chained  up,  he 
should  have  regular  exercise.     If  such  a  kennel  As  I  have  men- 
tioned be  used,  each  dog  should  at  first  be  chained  to  a  staple 
adjoining  his  own  house,  to  which  he  will  soon  become  so  per- 
fectly accustomed,  that  he  will  never  attempt  to  enter  that  of 
his  neighbor ;  and  if  they  are  watched  at  first,  and  punished  if 
they  quarrel,  they  will  live  harmoniously  enough  ;  provided  al- 
ways, that  no  bones  or  scraps  of  food  be  ever  suffered  to  remain 

in  the  kennel  to  breed  conlv^ntion,  and  that  none  of  the  fair  sex 

to  dogs,  as  to  men,  teterrima  belli  causa — be  allowed  to  be  at 
large  among  the  males,  in  those  seasons  when  they  are  most  ob- 
noxious to  addresses.  Setters  are  much  less  quarrelsome  than 
Pointers,  but  steadiness  and  firmness  will  keep  peace  even 
among  the  latter. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  kennel,  whether  for  one  or 
many  dogs,  cannot  be  kept  too  scrupulously  clean ;  as  the  least  col- 
lection of  dirt  not  only  renders  the  animal  uncomfortable  to  him- 
self, and  offensive  to  others,  but  promotes  humors,  and  is  a  mov- 
ing cause  of  some  of  the  worst  disorders. 

Where  it  is  not  found  practicable  to  have  a  channel  of  run- 
ning water  through  the  kennel,  each  dog  should  be  provided  at 
all  times  with  his  own  largo  earthen  pan  of  water,  which  should 
be  kept  continually  fresh  and  renewed  ;  and  in  each  pan  there 
should  be  at  all  seasons  a  piece  of  bar  brimstone,  but  especially 
in  summer.  This,  acting  as  an  alterative  and  gentle  purgative 
will  keep  the  bowels  in  good  condition,  cool  the  blood,  and  pre 
se  I've  the  softness  of  the  coat. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


337 


It  will  be  found  an  excellent  plan  to  feed  all  the  dogs  if  se- 

Zf'u'  T^'  ^'"™  """^  ^^"^  "^™'°°"  ''■^"gh,  into  which  the 
tood  should  be  poured,  in  regular  order,  and  the  dogs  then  called 
out  one  by  one,  by  name,  from  their  houses,  to  which  they 
should  previously  be  compelled  lo  retire,  and  none  suffered  to 
approach  until  so  summoned.     The  feeder  shou  d  stand  over 
them,  while  feeding,  with  a  switch,  and  the  firs  growl,  or  indi- 
cation  of  an  attempt  to  quarre  ,  should  be  punished  with  a  smart 
cut;  any  voracity,  in  like  manner,  can  be  checked  or  mode- 
rated by  a  word;  and  if  any  dog  eat  so  ravenously,  as  to  get 
more  than  his  share,  he  must  be  quietly,  but  firmly,  called  off 
and  ordered  to  his  own  kennel.     By  this  method,  order,  regu- 
larity, and  obedience,  will  be  greatly  increased  in  the  kanrfel- 
and  what  is  of  more  importance,  the  general  good  humor  and 
good  understanding  of  the  dogs  will   be  greatly  promoted,  so 
that  If,  as  may  often  become  necessary,  as,  for  instance,  in  tra- 
velling on  board  steamboats,  or  in  other  places  where  accom- 
modation 18  difficult  and  scanty,  you  should  be  compelled  to  feed 
your  dogs  out  of  one  vessel,  they  will  eat  together  cheerfully 
and  agreeably,  and  lie  down  to  get  their  rest  as  good  friends, 
instead  of  fighting  a  pitched  battle  over  the  plate,  and  growling 

steep'  ^"'''^''  '"  "'^^'  ^""^'  '"'''"^  ""^  ^°'°^  peaceably  to 
Attention  to  litt'e  matters  of  this  kind  is  of  great  real  impor- 
tance.     A  fight  between  a  brace  of  dogs,  may  deprive  the  owner 
of  the  services  of  one,  or  both,  for  half  a  dozen  consecutive  days  • 
and  so  destroy  the  sport  of  a  week,  on  which  he  has  counted' 
and  for  which  he  has,  perhaps,  incurred  considerable  trouble' 
and  expense.     Even  the  loss  of  a  night  s  rest  will  render  dogs 
peevish,  deprive  them  of  their  noses,  and  make  them  dull  and 
listless  during  half  a  day.     The  subject  of  feeding  is  of  great 
importance,  and  of  it  I  shall  treat  somewhat  at  length,  after  ob 
serving  that  frequent  washing  and  bathing  is  of  exceeding  bene 
fit  to  dogs  in  fine  weather,  when  they  have  suitable  conve- 
niences for  drying  themselves.     After  a  swim,  or  a  hard  day's 
shooting  in  snow,  or  in  marshes,  a  good  wheaten  straw  bed  is  the 
VOL.  I.  82  '"  "^*^ 


333 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


best  restorative ;  and  that  is  the  only  time  when  I  approve  of 
stravtr  for  a  bed,  as  it  is  heating,  and  has  a  strong  tendency  to 
harbor  vermin.  To  curry  a  dog,  or  comb  him  with  a  horse's 
mane  comb,  and  then  brush  him  thoroughly,  will  be  found  to 
contribute  to  his  cleanliness,  comfort,  and  health,  in  a  far  higlier 
degree,  than  the  trouble  of  seeing  it  done  will  incommode  the 
sportsman.  A  little  method,  and  the  regular  observance  of 
hours,  will  render  all  these  things  easy,  and  they  will  soon  come 
to  be  regarded  by  the  servant  as  matters  of  every  day  occur- 
rence, and  as  such  to  be  done,  and  the  trouble  disregarded. 

With  regard  to  feeding,  a  question  on  which  very  much  of  the 
condition,  and  not  a  little  of  the  olfactory  powers  of  the  dog, 
Mr.  Blaine  in  his  great  work  on  Canine  Pa  hology,  asks  the  fol- 
lowing question,  and  proceeds  forthwith  to  answer  it. 

"  What  is  the  best  food  for  dogs  ?     An  examination  of  this  ani- 
mal must  end  in  determining  that  he  is  neither  wholly  carnivo- 
rous, nor  wholly  herbivorous,  but  of  a  mixed  kind  ;  intended  to 
take  in  as  well  vegetable  as  animal  matter,  and  foi-med  to  re- 
ceive nourishment  from  either.     He  is  furnished  with  sharp  cut- 
ting teeth  for  tearinsr  flesh,  and  he  has  also  tolerably  broad  sur- 
faces on  other  of  his  teeth,  capable  of  grinding  farinaceous  sub- 
stances :  his  stomach  and  intestines  likewise  hold  a  middle  place 
between  those  of  the  carnivorous  and  herbivorous  tribes.     At 
the  same  time,  both  his  dental  and  his  digestive  organs  appear 
rather  more  adapted  to  the  mastication  and  assimilation  of  ani- 
mal than  vegetable  matter;  to  which  also  his  habits  and  partia- 
lities evidently  tend.     He  is  by  nature  predacious,  and  intended 
to  live  on  other  animals ;  the  stronger  he  hunts  in  troops,  the 
weaker  he  conquers  singly.     Yet  still  it  is  clear  that  his  organs 
fit  him,  when  necessary,  for  receiving  nutriment  from  vegetable 
matter  also,  and  we  likewise  see  that  he  voluntarily  seeks  it, 
probably  as  a  necessary  mixture,  to  prevent  that  tendency  to 
putridity,  which  too  great  a  quantity  of  animal  food  begets.     It 
is  a  received  opinion  among  many  sportsmen,  that  flesh-feedintr 
injures  the  scent ;  but  it  cannot  do  it  naturally :  for  the  fox,  one 
of  the  caninae,  which  is  known  to  be  by  choice  wholly  camivu- 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


339 


rous,  principally  lives  by  the  exquisite  sensibility  of  his  olfac 
tory  organs.  If  the  eating  of  flesh  really  have  such  an  effect  ons 
sportmg  dogs,  it  can  only  do  so.  when  it  has  been  taken  in  such 
quantities  as  to  vitiate  the  secretions  of  the  body;  and  in  this 
way  the  pituitary  mucous  secretion  of  the  nasal  sinuses  may 
themselves  become  somewhat  tainted. 

"  A  mixture  of  animal  and  vegetable  substances  is  therefore  the 
most  proper  general  food  for  dogs,  and  that  which  best  agrees 
with  the  analogies  of  their  nature ;  but  the  proportions  of  each 
are  best  determined  by  the  exertions  of  the  body." 

I  do  not.  I  confess,  lay  any  stress  whatever  on  the  argument 
drawn  from  the  natural  state  of  the  canincB,  or  from  the  habits  of 
he  fox,  since  it  is  too  notorious  to  require  comment,  that  animals 
m  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  not  only  acquire  new  wants  as  well 
a*  new  habits,  but  1  3e  many  of  their  natural  qualities  and  in- 
8 tincts.     And   I   am  thoroughly   convinced,  that  the   habitual 
f.  edmg  of  dogs  on  flesh  has  a  tendency  to  injure  their  powers 
of  scenting;  and  I  believe  the  reason  why  it  does  so.  is  precisely 
because  it  does  "vitiate  the  secretions  of  the  body"  generally 
and  therefore  does  affect  « the  nasal  sinuses."  ^' 

I  have  observed  many  times,  that  dogs  fed  largely,  even  on 
perfectly  >,.  animal  food,  paiticularly  in  a  raw  stat'e,  becom: 
utolerably  off-ensive  m  odor;  and  when  this  is  the  case  it  is  cer- 
tam  that  the  secretions  of  the  body  are  vitiated,  and  probable 
moreover,  that  the  health  of  the  animal  is  in  some  sozt  affected 
likewise. 

That  flesh  is  necessary  to  dogs,  I  will  not,  however,  deny: 
and  ,t  ,8  my  opinion  that,  during  the  dead  seasons  of  the  year 
when  there  is  no  field  work  to  be  done,  except  exercise,  flesh 
n.ay  be  given  not  only  without  detriment,  but  with  advantage 
Raw  meat  tends,  unquestionably,  to  give  a  dog  both  strenl 
and  ferocty;  and  the  latter  is  so  nearly  allied  to  endurance, 
and  what  is  commonly  called  y^^-A,  that  we  can  scarcely  encour- 
age the  one  quality,  apart  from  the  others 

I  would  thei.fo..e  fl.e.l  dogs,  while  getting  them  into  condition, 
on  flesh-and  I  would  not  even  object  to  raw  horse-flesh  for  tl.a 


340 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


purpoHc—wiihout  Stint,  save  that  of  their  own  appetites,  hnvin|[f 
care  to  give  them  a  sufficiency  of  sulphur  in  their  water  to  ko.p 
their  bodies  open. 

Well-lbd,  nay  oven  rendered  fat,  upon  tliis  strong  and  hearty 
food,  and  worked  down  into  liard  flesh  and  sound  condition  l)y 
constant,  and,  toward  the  commencement  of  soasi-n,  sharp  and 
fast  exercise,  Sotteiu  or  Pointers  will  have  raised  such  a  stock 
of  muscle,  and  will  bo  so  high  in  courage,  l  lut  they  may  safely 
dispense  with  all  solid  animal  food  during  the  prevalence  of 
the  shooting  season. 

We  have  one  advantage  in  this  country  over  the  residents  of 
Great  Britain,  in  regard  to  dog-feeding,  that  whereas  both  oat 
and  barley  meal  are  ajjt  to  heat  the  blood  of  tht)  animal  to  such 
a  degree  as  to  produce  cuticular  eruptions  and  redness,  not 
very  dissimilar  to  mange,  we  possess  in  tlio  meal  of  the  maize. 
or  *ndian  corn,  a  sulistance  admirably  adapted  to  the  food  of 
the  d  g ;  which  moreover  has  a  tendency  to  act  on  him  as  a 
Blight  and  gentle  alterative. 

This  I  consider  to  be  the  perfection  of  dog-food,  and  the  fol- 
lowing is  the  best  way  of  p»    >aring  it. 

Take  a  caldron  half  full  of  water,  set  it  over  a  small  furnace, 
and  when  boiling  cast  in  a  handful  of  salt ;  then  stir  in  the 
meal,  keeping  the  water  still  boiling,  until  it  has  attained  the 
consistency  of  very  thick  poiridge.     Remove  it  from  the  fire, 
and  let  it  cool  gradually,  running  the  blade  of  a  knife  round 
the  side  of  the  pot,  which  will  prevent  its  adherence  to  the 
metal.     When  cold,  it  will  have  hardened  info  the  conflistcncy 
of  stiff  batter   pudding,  and  than   this,  either   alone,  or  with 
milk,  butter-milk,  or  pot  liquor,  no  bettor  food  can  be  given  to 
hunting  dogs.     Obsei-ve,  however,  that  the  pot  liquor  of  ham, 
salt-pork,  salt-beef,  or  the  like,  is  objectiona!)le ;  as  is  the  fat, 
grease  or  scraps  of  such  food ;  the  excess  of  salt  having  a  ten- 
dency to  produce  a  very  obstinate  species  of  mange. 

For  a  person  who  keeps  several  dogs,  there  is  no  better  mode 
than  to  let  the  butcher  regularly  supply  him  with  sheep  hvmh, 
which  will  cost  a  mere  trifle,  at  the  rate  of  one  for  each  dog 


irpLAND  SHOOTTNO, 


341 


ever,  „co„,l  day.     The«,  boiled  cnrapletely  ,„  n,g.,  „„d  fl,. 

::;  ;;;-LC " ""' """'' "'" ""™ "°  """■"■" '-  "" 

It  18  well  to  obTOive  th.t  vegetable,  of  almo,t  any  |ii„d 
•",  ,'",'•«""'.•  ™""'".  P«™"ip".  and  even  cabbage,,  iy  be 
-uLled  to  tl„.  ,„«,  „„d  rt,at  to  the  dog'»  great  advLlgT    The 

P".t,o„   ha.  the  flavor  of  ,|,„  „„„  .hall  „„,  be  altered,  until  th. 

'leg  w,ll  eat  the  vogotable,  ,l,.oM  .lone.     The  be  t  kenn.^ 

m..™an  I  ever  know  in  England,  waa  in  the  habit  of  fLZ' 

h.»  .h.g«  one  day  i„  „ix,  during  ,h„  hunting  aeaaon,  and  twTce  ! 

rir ,n  • "'" ' """"  •""  ""^  •"""-  •"■' «-  in 

I>"g»  .hould  be  .upplied  freely,  if  kept  chained  up  in  cilie. 
where  they  „„„„.„  p™„,.„  .^ei,.  natujal  herbaceou.  eml^ 
wth  the  cornmon  dog-g,...,  or  -,„eed.-gr,«,  ,ri,icu^  r^'l 
»nd  whe,^  ,h,»  cannot  be  obtained,  ahould  ecca.io„alIy  hZ^ 
en.et,c  g,ve„  them,  eo„,i„i„^  „f  ,a«ari.ed  an.i.^1^1^ 

the  dog.     It  can  bo  given  mo«t  readily,  mixed  with  lard  or  b,., 
ter  u,to  a  .mall  ball ;  o,.  b„twoon  two'.lice.  of  ^ta    whl  tht 

?f:r:^:.i-:::r-t-s 

mcnt  ol  the  «l,„„t„,g  „ea,on,  and  strong  exercise  ha.  b„„ 
r,.,  ,t  into  play  ,.  ,.d„c„  and  bring  them  in^  perfetcend  " 
t,on,  a  few  gentle  -loHea  of  purgative  medicine  wi  I  be  of  Zl 
.ervce  .„  the  animal,  and  will  improve  all  hi.  powet,  be*Tf 
»peed,  endurance  and  acent. 

"  The  term  condition,"  ,aya  Mr.  'Blaine,  "  a.  applied  to  do™ 
'.'  -"-P"-'*'"  »ith  the  ,ame  term  a.  u«,d  among  hoJe.  Z 
..  .ntended  to  characterize   a  healthy  exte..al 'a ppe" 


342 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


unxted  With  a  capability,  frou)  full  wind  and  perfect  vigor,  to  go 
through   all   the  exercises  required  of  them.     It  is,  therefoit 
evident  that  condition  is  of  material  consequence  to  sportsmen  ' 
indeed.  ,t  is  of  infinitely  more  importance  than  is  generally  im- 
agined.   What  would  be  thought  of  that  sporting  character  who 
should  enter  his  horse  for  racing  without  any  previous  training? 
and  how  much  chance  would  he  be  presumed  to  have,  even  to 
'save  7m  distance,'  without  this  precaution  ]     Is  it  not  equally 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  Pointers,  Sette  s,  Spaniels,  and  m,.,; 
than   all    Greyhounds,*  require  training;    or,  in  other  words 
to  be  m  full  cmdition  also  ?     It  is  notorious,  that  Pointers  Set- 
ters,  and  Spaniels,  if  they  are  what  is  Un-med  foul  in  their  coats 
never  ha^■o  their  scent  in  perfection.     It  must  be  equally  evident' 
that,  unless  they  are 'in  wind;  they  cannot  range  with  speed 
and  durability  ;  and  without  some  previous  training,  it  is  impos- 
sible they  shouLi  be  so.     Those  persons,  the.ef<,re,  who  expect 
superior  exertion  from  their  dogs  in  the  field,  would  do  well  to 
prepare   them  by  a  previous  attention  to  their  cmdition.     I„ 
Greyhounds,  intended  either  for  matches  or  for  simp/e  coursing 
It  IB  evident  that  this  is  absolutely  necessary  to  insure  success' 
In  simple  coursing,  they  are  pitted   against  an   animal   very 
nearly  equal  in  speed  to  themselves,  and  always  in  cmdition  by 
Its  habits.     If,  therefore,  a  dog  of  acknowledged  goodness  is 
beaten  by  a  Hare,  especially  at  the  beginning  of  the  season  it 
IS  ten  to  one  but  the  condition  of  the  dog  is  at  fault.     It  is  self- 
evident  that  perfect  condition  must  be  more  than  equally  impor- 
tant m  comsing  matches;  where  a  dog  has  two  competitors  to 
beat,  the  Hare  and  the  other  dog. 

"  The  manner  of  getting  dogs  into  condition  is  very  simple,  and 

•  I  was,  at  first,  about  to  omit  that  part  relating  to  Greyhounds,  as  in  conse- 
quence  of  there  existing  no  animal  in  the  Eastern  States  fit  for  their  pureuit  and 
consequently  no  field  for  their  powers,  they  are  useless,  and  only  kept  as  pets. 
I  am,  however,  so  well  assured  that  they  must  come  into  use  to  the  Westward, 
and  that  the  finest  sport  conceivable  might  be  had  witli  them  on  th^  prairies  iu 
pursuit  of  the  Deer,  the  Antelope,  and  with  the  large  Scotch  wiry  Iw-d  of  the 
Elk  and  Wolf  also,  that  I  have  resolved  to  retain  ihe  whole  passage. 


Ill 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


343 


eit'.cr  consists  in  reducing  the  animal  from*  too  full  and  soft  a 
Btate  to  one  of  firmness  and  less  bulk ;  or  it  consists  in  raising 
a  lean  and  reduced  dog  to  lustiness,  hardness,  and  vigor.   Some 
sportsmen  prefer  the  one  state,  and  some  the  other  to  begin 
upon.     If  a  dog  be  fat,  his  treatment  must  be  entered  on  by 
physic  and  sufficient  exercise,  hut  not  by  two  great  a  privation 
of  food ;  and  it  must  be  particularly  observed,  that  hia  doses  of 
physic  be  mild,  but  more  in  number.     The  exercise  should  be 
at  first  gradual  and  slow,  but  long  continued;  and  at  last  it 
should  be  increased  to  nearly  what  he   will  be  accustomed  to 
when  hunting.     If  tliere  be  the  least  foulness— i.  e.  if  the  secre- 
tions  of  the  skin  are  impure — apparent  in  the  habit,  besides 
physic  and  exercise,   alteratives  should  be  given  also:  these 
medicines  immediately  follow  the  subject  of  condition.     Some 
sportsmen  regularly  dress  their  dogs,  before  the  hunting  season, 
with  sulphur,  even  though  no  breaking-out  appears,  and  I  by 
no  means  think  the  practice  a  bad  one.     Others  curry  or  brash 
their  dogs,  whether  any  skin  affection  appears  or  not ;  and,  to 
Greyhounds,  it  is  a  very  proper  means  of  keeping-up  the  equili- 
brium of  the  circulation,  and  of  promoting  muscular  elasticity. 
When  a  lean  dog  is  to  be  got  into  condition,  less  physic  is  neces- 
sary ;  but  good  flesh  feeding,  plenty  of  exercise,  and  a  due  ad- 
ministration of  alteratives,  are   principally  to  be  resorted  to : 
nevertheless,  one  or  two  doses  of  very  mild  physic  will  here 
also  promote  the  condition  and  even  assist  the   accumulation 
of  flesh." 


ALTERATIVES. 

"  Various  substances  are  used  as  alteratives  ;  as  antimonials, 
and  the  different  preparations  of  mercury,  iron,  and  tin.  The 
nitrate  of  potash  (nitre,)  the  supertartrate  of  potash  (cream  of 
tartar,)  aloes,  salines,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  are  excellent  alteratives. 
Tartarized  antimony  (emetic  tartar)  often  proves  a  very  useful 

*  This  I  conceive  to  be  the  true,  and  by  far  the  easiest  mode.  It  is  easy  to 
reduce  fat  into  solid  flesh,  but  very  difficult  to  raise  leanness  into  muscle,  and 
proMrre  harduera  at  the  same  time.  • 


344 


FHANI   rORBSTER's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


alterative  m  the  chronic  asthmatic  cough  to  which  do™   «r« 
"ubject,  given  as  an  emetic  once  or  twice  a  week    in  Z     7 
one  grain  to  three.     Antimonial  powder    or  Jam  J"         7 
^ay  a,.,  ,e  given  with  benefit  asL  ^rlZZ^:^ 
Crude  antimony  is  often  found  useful  in  the  diseases  of  the  sZ 
J'utitis  unfortunately  very  uncertain  in  its  operation     thl^T-' 

rtraiiro^^^t^"^^^^^ 

is  from  t  V  !  '^''^°"'  ^^"'""^  «'«^"«««.-  *e  usual  dose 

18  from  half  a  scruple  to  half  a  drachm.     Nitrate  of  nn.„T 

rn.rej.s  a  very  useful  alterative  to  dogs,  for  hoi  tchi^^^^^^^^^ 
and  redness  of  the  skin  in  rln«oo  ^e  e  •  ■        *  ""mors 

"1  mo  BMH.  m  doses  of  four  erams  to  ten      Tl.o  =„ 

».*  bene«.  i„  ,.^er  doses,  i„  .he  same  cL  ,  alf  Zp^plr 
^o,^  of  mercury,  ,h„„gh  excellen.  aUeradves,  renuiLZ 
caufon  when  frequently  repeated,  or  regularly  \a^X  (S 

LAXATIVES  AND  PVRQATirES. 

"These  evacuants  are  bothj,r«,««,V  a„d«„a6,W  of  diseaw- 
*ey  are  valuable  „,,„,„„.,  and  active  .„.«<^«.,.  "  1"I„ 

o?  *■„  .r,      "  T  ^"l"^ '  '"''  "  ™'^  consideri.ble  source 
of  sk,„  affections  also ,  fo,  whatever  Is  taken  up  superfluousr^ 
by  the  system  is  apt  ,„  find  itself  an  outlet  there     wtThe"  b, 
likewise  prevent  pulmonary  congestion,  and   doposiu  of  fa. 
"-hich  would  obstruct   the  visceral  func  ions.     llati.t  1 

71^1    °"f''^™-"-»"»  «"™al.:  >«ch,  therefoie,  as  a„ 
flesh-fed  should  have  this  fcjndency  obviated  by  laxatives-  an^ 

to„  flesh  food :  potatoes,  or  even  greens,  can  always  be  pro- 
currf  and  will  answer  the  pu^-ose.    This  is  the  more  neC 

T^izi:r  """'r'  '^'^"^^  '■«'^'  ^^mctiiTrd 

ment  to  the  breeding  of  worms.    Medicinal  laxatives  arc  nu. 


PPLAND   SHOOTINO. 


S45 


merous.  Epsom  s^\t^-,ulj,hate  of  magnesior-^ose  one  drachm 
o  two;  castor  oil.  two  drachms  to  four;  syrup  of  buckthorn, 
the  same  quantity,  will  either  of  them  answer  this  end.  tlie 
quantities  being  increased  if  those  mentioned  are  not  found  suf- 
ficien  :  but  as  these  directions  are  intended  to  meet  the  tender 
pet  of  the  drawing-room,  as  well  as  the  strong  inhabitant  of  the 
konnCsoit  IS  prudent  to  specify  the  minor  dose :  more  may 

g'ven  '  '' ''  '°°  ^'''  '°  '"^''^''  ^^""  '°°  ""*'*'  has  been 

" Purgatives  ra^y  be  made  by  increasing  the  doses  of  any  of  the 

axatives.  Jalap  is  not  a  bad  purgative  to  dogs,  but  it  is  uncer- 
tain, some  being  little  affected  by  it;  rhubarb  is  equally  so- 
senna  I  have  no  experience  of;  gamboge  is  very  drastic;  calo^ 
mel  IS  an  excellent  auxiliary  to  other  purgatives  on  some  occa- 
Bion  ;  but  given  alone  it  is  apt  to  deceive,  by  proving  more 
emetic  than  purgative ;  neither  will  the  stomach  o'r  bowe'ls  bea" 
a  sufficient  quantity  without  producing  much  derangement  in 
the  system  as  violent  vomiting,  tenesmus,  and  sometimes  sud- 
den saUvation     Aloes  fonn  the  safest  general  purge  to  dogs; 

man  cl  tT        ?"""'"'"  °'*'^  ^^"^"^  ^^-''«'  ^^^^  -hile  a 
man  can  take  with  impunity  as  much  calomel  as  would  kill  two 

uT-  f!'  \  ™°'i«r-t-«i-ed  dog  will  take  a  quantity  of  aloes 
sufficient  to  destroy  two  stout  men.  The  smallLt  do<;  can  take 
fifteen  ortwenty  grains;  half  a  drachm  is  seldom  too  much  but 
the  smaller  dose  had  better  be  tried  fi.t:  medium-sized  dog 
usually  require  a  drachm,  and  some  large  do-rs  have  taken 
more  than  two  drachms  :  I  have  given  thr^e  to  I  strong  Net 
foundland  dog  without  extreme  catharsis;  but  as  before  ob- 
Berved,  dogs  differ  much  in  their  different  habits,  and  it  is  there- 

kl™r  r.  .  ?  ^'^"  "•*  "  ^""'^  '«-  --"  than  too 
arge :  hundreds  of  dogs  are  every  year  destroyed  by  temerity 
mth.  particular.  Whenever  a  purgative  is  a'dminLrTdle^ 
t.e  dog  have  some  vegetable  food,  if  possible,  a  day  or  two  U- 
viously;  an  active  cathartic,  given  soon  afler  a  full  meal  of 
flesh  or  bones,  might  destroy  by  hurrying  the  undigested  food 
into  the  intestines,  where  it  might  form  such  an  impacted  and 


II 


846 


FRANK    FORESTRb's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


obstructing  rnnHS  as  could  not  be  overcome :  it  is  prudent  to 
place  before  the  dog  hoido  broth,  milk,  &c...  to  assist  purgation. 
Let  me  warn  spoi  ,1  i.  ,  ,vrr<>  re  putting  iheir  dogs  tfirough  a 
course  ofphyah  Tot  hn-'Miii.;  or  coursing  purposes,  to  be  aware, 
that  it  is  not  thi-  inordinate  strength  of  the  doao  which  does 
good;  on  the  contrary,  violent  physic  often  defeats  its  own  pur- 
pose :  it  is  a  mild  and  repeated  emptying  of  the  bowels  which 
unloads  the  system  at  large,  and  at  once  rfrengthens  the  solids 
and  purifies  the  fluids." 

This,  I  believe,  is  all  that  need  be  said,  in  this  place,  with  re- 
gard  to  general  medical  treatment,  except  in  cases  of  speci- 
fic disease,  where  the  aid  of  a  medicid  assistant  of  some  kind 
would  of  course  be  called  in  ;  and  directions  for  the  treatment 
of  which  cannot  be  contained  within  the  compass  of  such  a 
work  as  this.  In  consequence,  however,  of  tlie  great  prevalence 
of  two  or  three  maladies,  as  canine  distemper,  worms,  mange, 
and  the  like,  with  some  common  injuries  arising  from  local 
accidents,  I  shall  here  add  a  few  short  recipes  for  the  treatment 
of  these  ti'oublesome  maladies,  which  will  be,  I  think,  sufiicient 
to  guide  the  sportsman  in  any  ordinary  cases. 

Occasional  bleeding  is  of  great  benefit  to  dogs.  It  is  most 
readily  performed  by  holding  the  head  of  the  animal  up, 
passing  a  ligature  round  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  which  will 
cause  the  jugular  vein  to  swell  at  about  one  inch  from  the  wind- 
pipe, and  then  puncturing  ihe  vein  with  a  common  thumb  Ian 
cet.  The  only  care  necessary  is  to  avoid  inserting  the  lancet 
so  deeply  as  to  sever  the  vein.  If  the  hair  is  thick  and  long,  it 
may  be  requisite  to  clip,  or  even  shave  the  spot,  before  effecting 
the  orifice.  No  pin  or  ligature  is  necessary  to  close  the  wound. 
In  case  of  fits,  or  any  sudden  emergency,  a  clip  in  the  ear,  if  no 
lancet  is  at  hand,  will  answer  the  end. 

The  quantity  of  blood  to  be  drawn  ^rom  a  dog  will  vary  ac- 
cording to  the  size  of  the  animal,  from  one  or  two  oz.  in  a  very 
small  dog,  to  six,  seven,  or  eight  in  a  very  large  one,  propor- 
tionably  to  the  nature  of  disease,  and  the  violence  of  the  symp- 
toms. 


PPLAND   SHOOTmo. 


317 


ThepuLso  of  the  dog  maybe  felt  at  the  heart,  and  at  the 
inner  sulo  of  the  protuberance  of  the  knee.     The  range  of  p«l. 

z^r  Th"  \zVu'' "' '  ^^^^  ^'"^"  '^^^'  •'-'  '- 

t-.an  20.  Thus,  if  loo  bo  taken  m  the  usual  number  for  the 
former,  and  120  for  the  latter,  whatever  is  found  much  to  ox.eed 
th,8  maybe  am   Ibod  to  the  inflammatory  state. 

The  following  brief  ruloH  for  the  tn.itmont  of  a  few  of  the 
most  common  diseases,  and  n.jurios  to  which  doi^s  .,re  liable 

M8TEMI.E.,  OR  8PECIRK  CATABRHAL  DISEASE. 

The  term  of  distempor,  though  in  itself  a  very  ahsurd  and  in 
defimte  tenn,  has  become  so  conv,,„.io„a.  that  ft  cannot   eadi"; 
be  d„pe„sed  w.th,  as  by  this  name  and  no  other  it  is  generally 

Whatever  it  might  have  been  in  ,h„  «„,  instance,  it  is  now 
.  oons.,tut,o„al  canine  endemic,  from  which  few  inJividuaU 
-cape     It  ,sat  times  epidemical  also,    ,„,  i,  .„e„  pecj^y 

he  ,1  ape  of  an  ep.demic,  has  some  peculiar  chantcteristic 
type  somotnnes  tending  .„  diarrh„,„,  s„„.,aimes  to  epilepsy 
and^spasms,  and  sometimes,  the  most  fatal  of  all,  to  a  pufrid 

It  is  unqnestionably  contagious,  hut  i,  is,  as  I  have  stated 
e„dem,cal  and  epidemical  also,  and  it  is  also  self-genera,^     ft 

o  adult,  of  as  many  years.    It  occurs  also  many  times  in  thj 
same  md,v,d„al,  and  dog.  have  been  known  to  escape  i,    hr   ^ 

uncomZn    V    T^  """'•     '^"  '''  '■°— '  '<>"— y^ 
uncommon.    In  the  most  highlybred  dogs  it  is  the  most  fatal 

and  I  have  generally  observed  it  to  be  especially  a.n°„ 

the  smooth  ha,red  races,  as  G,.yhounds  and  Bull-Lie^    With 

Newfoundland  dogs,  at  times,  it  makes  sad  havoc.    Its  .ym' 

toms  a,,  so  vanous.  that  it  is  not  easy  to  set  before  the  ZZ 


94n 


FRANK   FORESTBr's  FIELD   8FORT8. 


any  distinct  or  strict  diagnosric  signs,  yet  it  is  not  difficult,  on 
the  whole,  of  detection. 

A  dry,  husky  cough,  followed  by  a  loss  of  spirits  and  appe- 
tite,  the  staring  of  the  coat,  and  a  thin  watery  discharge  from 
the  nostrils  and  eyes,  gradually  instead  of  limpid  becoming 
muco-purulont,  are  usually  the  earliest  symptoms  of  the  disease  ; 
though  at  times  the  discharge  does  not  appear,  or  is  quickly 
arrested,  and  followed  by  convulsions,  which  usually  tonninate 
the  affair  very  quickly. 

"When  the  symptomatic  epilepsy  of  distemper  occurs,  if  the  at- 
tack  can  be  arrested  with  the  occurrence  of  a  single  fit,  the  dog 
often  recovers,  but  if  one  is  followed  by  a  second,  the  case  is 
usually  hopeless. 

The  virulent  or  putrid  type  of  the  disease  marked  by  a  bloody 
and  foetid  discluuge  from  the  nose,  eyes,  and  sometimes  even 
from  the  ears,  and  by  bloody,  mucous  and  bilious  evacuations 
of  the  bowels,  is,  I  think,  so  almost  invariably  fatal,  that  the 
most  merciful  method  is  at  once  to  destroy  the  animal,  as  an  act 
of  kindness  to  himself,  as  well  as  a  means  of  preventing  extend- 
ed ravages  by  contagion. 

Again,  distemper  often  leaves  behind  it  a  species  of  paralysis, 
with  nervous  twitchings  of  the  limbs,  similar  to  chorea  or  St. 
Vitus'  dance,  which  continually  increase,  until  it  ends  in  convul- 
sions  and  death,  though  it  will  at  times  slowly  and  entirely  dis- 
appear. 

The  treatment  of  distemper  must  therefore  necessarily  varj 
greatly,  and  it  is  needless  to  add  that  although  almost  ever) 
sportsman  and  breeder  has,  what  he  believes,  an  infallible  rem- 
edy—there is  no  such  thing  as  a  general  specific  for  its  cure  or 
prevention. 

The  best  plan  generally  is  to  commence  operations  with  a 
mild  purgative  or  emetic,  such  as  have  been  prescribed  under 
the  head  of  General  Treatment. 

If  there  is  very  much  cough,  or  the  pulse  be  very  greatly  ex- 
cited,  bleed  from  three  to  six  oz.,  according  to  the  age  and  size 
of  the  dog.    If  bleeding  in  adopted,  use  a  very  mild  purgative. 


PPL4ND  SHOOTINO. 


.349 


The  best  emetic  is 
Ti  •    y"^\     .'        '         *  ^'  Tartarized  antimony,        .  1 -, 

of  :.Xai:  "'°  """"■"  '"*■  ^"' "-'""  --y  '^'' 

After  the  ImwoI.  .re  cl6an.e,l  and  the  body  thu.  depleted 

5,  10  or  15  j™. 


*.  AuluMoniul  pow<l,.r,  Q  3  or  4  ««.       Nitrate  of  Potanh, 
fowdered  ipecucuanlm,  a,  3  or  4  gn. 


Make  i„to  a  ball  aconling  .„  ,i,e  and  age.  and  give  ,„ice  or 

ing  the  dose  if  it  produces  sic-kness. 

If  the  cough  is  very  distressing,  add  to  each  dose 
J^'oxg'ove  digitalin,  ^  to  1  jrr. 
If  no  farther  symptoms  occur,  repeat  the  emetic  eveiy  third  or 
foim     day  an.i  keep  the  bowels  open,  but  strenuously  avoid 
any  thing  like  active  purgation. 
In  case  o£diarr/t(m  supervening, 

Powdered  ginger,  J  dr. 
Make  into  twelve,  nine,  or  six  balls,  with  consei^e  of  roses,  and 
give  from  once  to  four  times  a  day.  j^o  re  nata. 
If  this  does  not  suffice, 

»»•.,.  *"         rowdored  Gum-Arabic,  o .!» 

M.X  with  S.X  ounces  of  boiled  starch,  and  give  a  desert  or^ 
tablespoonful  every  four,  six  or  eight  houra.  p  r  n 

In  case  oi  epileptic  Jits  being  foreseen,  by  sudden  restlessness 
animation,  bnghtness  of  the  eyes,  and  convulsive  twitchings  of' 
the  face  and  jaws,  give  a  brisk  emetic,  followed  by  a  brisk  pur. 
gative.  and  insert  a  seton  in  the  neck,  the  tape  smeared  with 
blistering  ointment.  If  repeated  attacks  succeed,  give  the  follow- 
mg  formula  to  a  medium-sized  dog,  half  the  quantity  to  a  small 
me,  m  a  spoonful  of  ale  every  two  hours. 


* 


Either, 
Camphor, 


1  dr. 

6  grs. 


Tincture  of  opium,   . 
Spirits  of  harfahorn. 


idr. 
1  dr. 


Place  the  dog  in  a  very  warm  bath  for  twenty  minutes,  and  keep 
him  warm  and   moist  by  wrapping  in  wet  flannel  before  the 


350 


FRANK   FORESTBr's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


fire,  for  several  hours  afterward.  Give  nourishing  food,  and  keep 
quiet. 

If  chorea  or  paralysis  follow  distemper,  use  the  seton  as 
above,  stimulate  the  spine  by  rubbing  the  whole  course  of  it 
with  tincture  of  cantharides,  and  as  a  tonic 

^.  Nitrate  of  silver,  very  fine,  3  grs.        Chrbontite  of  iron,  powdered,    •  2  dra. 
Gentian,  powdered,  3  drs. 

Conserve  of  roses  sufficient  to  make  six,  nine,  or  twelve  balls,  of 
which  give  one  every  night  and  morning,  if  the  stomach  will 
bear  them. 

Frictions,  liberal  feeding,  strong  soups,  and  cold  baths,  may 
aid  in  this  stage  of  the  disorder. 

These  directions  are  abridged  from  Blaine  and  Youatt,  and 
contain,  I  believe,  the  best  remedial  course  that  can  be  used. 

For  the  disease  under  its  ordinary  type,  the  practice  above 
detailed  will  bo  found  all-sufficient,  and  even  when  diarrhoea 
sets  in,  there  is  no  occasion  to  despair. 

I  must  say,  however,  that  altr.ough  I  have  thought  it  advisa- 
ble to  insert  formulae  for  the  treatment  of  the  epileptic  fits,  and 
of  the  rJiorca  or  paralysis  of  distemper,  I  have  never  seen  the 
fits  conquered  where  two  or  three  have  occurred,  and  the  cJiorea 
never. 

When  paralysis  or  chorea  follows,  I  would  myself  kill  the  ani- 
mal as  an  act  of  mercy.  For  tltc  putrid  or  malignant  type  of 
this  disease,  I  have  not  thought  it  Worth  the  while  to  prescribe 
any  treatment,  as  it  is  all  but  incurable. 

WORMS. 

For  worms,  an  ailment  to  which  dogs  are  extremely  liable, 
and  which  is  very  troublesome,  and  at  times,  even  dangerous^ 
the  following  formula  is  safe  and  unexceptionable. 

^.  Cowhajre— Z)(<ZtcAo»  pruriena,  half  a  drachm. 
Tin-filings,  wry  >•/)«,  4  drachms, 
made  into  foui,  six,  or  eight  balls,  with  lard,  according  to  the  size 
of  the  patient,  exhibit  one  every  morning,  and  afterwards  ad- 
minister a  purgative,  such  as  epsom  salts,  or  castor   oil,  or  a 


■>1 


irPLAND   SHOOTING. 


351 


very  slight  mercurial  dose,  not  exceeding  4  gra.  of  calomel  in 
combination  with  aloes. 

POISONS. 

For  any  mercurial  poisons,  the  best  remedy  is  the  white  of 
eggs,  beaten  into  a  liquid,  given  in  large  quantities,  and  repeat- 
ed as  often  as  they  have  been  ejected.  Mild  clysters  may  be 
thrown  up,  and  when  the  stomach  is  appeased,  give  an  opiate 
and  castor  oil.  Whet,  .ggs  are  not  at  hand,  largo  doses  of  soap 
dissolved  m  water  may  be  tried. 

For  arsenic,  largo  doses  of  sugar  dissolved  in  milk,  until  the 
stomach  IS  supposed  to  be  cleared,  then  as  above. 

For  verdigris,  as  for  mercurial  poisons. 
^For  lead,  give  a  strong  dose  oCepsom  salts.     If  this  be  reject- 
ed  a  ball  vvith  calomel,  aloes  and  a  quarter  of  a  grain  of  op  um. 
After  this  the  body  to  be  kept  open  with  castor  oil.  ^ 

For  vegetable  poisons,  a  strong  emetic  sliould  be  given  as 
quickly  as  possible,  followed  by  a  large  teaspoonful  of  mustard. 
or  any  other  strong,  spicy  stimulant,  such  as  pepper,  or  the 
like,  mixed  with  vinegar.  r  ff    >    '^  "'e 

MANGE. 

For  common  Mange,  the  following  formula  for  ointment  will 
be  found  useful : 


No.  1 — Powdered  sulphur, 
Aloes,  powdered, 


4oz. 

j^^J'         Venice  turpeutiiio, 
ijard,  6  oz.,  mix. 
No.  2.— Sulphate  of  zinc,  1  dr  TnK..„„    • 

White  iiellebore  in  j^wder.  i  t        L^.  u   i'"St' 
Aloes  m  powder,         .  2  dr.        Lard  '    "^"'''' 

No.  ^-Powdered  charcoal,        2  oz.         Powdered  sulphur, 

Venice  turpentine,  i  oz.,  mix! 
No.4-SuIphuricacid,        .        i  dr.        Lard, 

Oxymuriate  of  quicksilver,  5  grs.  ' 

With  all  these  applications  a  fine  wire  muzzle  must  be  used 
to  prevent  the  dog  licking  himself,  as  if  he  do  so  he  will  InZt 


^'••■.'ate  of  ammonia,  powdered,  jj  oz. 

i  oz. 

>  i  oz. 

4oz. 

6  oz.,  mix. 

•  4  oz. 

•  6  oz. 

6  oz. 
1  oz. 


352 


FRANK   forester's   FIELD  SPORTS. 


l>ly  perish  from  the  strong  poisonous  properties  of  the  remedies. 
For  red  mange,  to  any  of  the  foramla,  1,  2,  or  3,  to  6  oz.  of 
the  ointments  prescribed,  add  1  oz.  mild  mercurial  ointment. 
Use  the  wire  muzzle  as  above. 

In  addition  to  these  outer  applications,  give  mild  doses  of 
epsom  salts  tvi^ice  or  thrice  a  week ;  and  occasionally,  but  for 
red  mange  always,  the  following  formula : 


Black  sulphiiret  of  quicksilver,  ^Ethiop's  mineral,  1  oz. 
buportartarute  of  potash,        1  oz.         Nitrate  of  Potash, 


Sdrs. 


Divide  into  sixteen,  twenty,  or  twenty-four  doses,  according  to 
the  size  of  the  dog,  and  give  one  morning  and  evening. 
Keep  the  dog  warm  and  dry,  and  feed  on  vegetable  diet. 


OPHTHALMIA, 

Whether  aiising  from  cold,  or  external  in-itation,  as  scratches, 
thorn- wounds,  or  the  like,  may  be  treated  successfully  as  follows : 
(live  gentle  purgatives,  feed  low;  if  much  inflammation,  bleed. 
Apply  the  following  wash  several  times  a  day,  after  fomenting, 
with  an  infusion  of  poppy-heads,  or  a  weak  infusion  of  opium 
in  hot  water. 

Siiperacetate  of  lead,  J  dr.         Rose-water,  .  6  oz. 

When  the  inflammation  is  disappearing, 

Sulphate  of  zinc,  .     1  scmp.        Weiik  infusion  of  elm  bark,  G  oz. 

Brandy,  one  teaspoonful. 


SORE    FEET. 

"  When  dog's  feet  become  sore  by  travelling  it  is  common  to 
wash  them  with  brine,  but  tliis  is  not  altogether  a  good  practice. 
It  is  better  to  bathe  them  with  greasy  pot  liquor,  milk  or  butter- 
milk, and  afterwards  to  defend  them  from  stones  or  dirt  by 
wrapping  them  up." — Blaine. 

My  practice  is  always  after  shooting,  to  bathe  a  dog's  foot 
when  unwounded,  with  brine,  which  tends  greatly  to  indurate 
and  prevent  them  from  becoming  sore.  If  actually  sore,  I  fol- 
low Mi-.  Blaine's  course  of  treatment. 


UPLAND   SHOOTINQ. 


353 


ITie  habit  of  woi-ming  dogs  is,  I  believe,  now  entirely  out  of 

of  whi^h' V"  "'"''^  ""''''  ^  "  P^^^«"^^^«  ^°^  hydrophobia, 
of  which  It  ^vas  ignorantly  supposed  to  prevent  the  possible 
occunence.     It  is  an  absurd,  useless  and  cmel  practice 

1  do  not  approve  of  the  practice  of  either  cropping,  rounding 
or  tailing  dogs  ;  but  if  in  compliance  with  an  absurd  iashionh 

njured-for  deafness  is  a  common  consequence  of  cropping- 
he  operation  should  be  perfo^ed  with  a  pair  of  sharp!^strtng 

scissors,  and  a  ligature  should  be  applied  to  the  tail,  in  carder  to 

prevent  excessive  bleeding. 

For  the  bites  of  poisonous  reptiles,  the  best  remedy  is  to  rub 

the  par  bmen  freely  with  volatile  alcali,  and  to  give  to  a  lar^e 

be  endured,  and  warm  poultices,  are  the  best  practice      In  the 

han  his  own  tongue.     Whenever  dogs  are  at  aTll  1      a    ^ 
foulness,  as  a  tendonrv  t^      .•     ,  inclined  to 

so  licked,  is  sure  to  beeo-  "  T^'^'"^  ^^  ^^"^'^'  ^  -- 

licking."  '"'"'  '"^"^^'  ^"^  ^«  be  aggravated  by  the 

I  shall  conclude  this  branch  of  my  subject  a.  T  . 
VOL   r  ^  sunject,  as  1  commenced 

23 


354 


FRANK    forester's    FIELD   SPORTS. 


It,  by  recommending  it  strongly  to  every  sportsman  to  have  al- 
ways  at  hand,  as  better  than  the  best  fairiers,  Blaine's  Canine 
Pathology,  and  Yoiiatt  on  the  Dog:  these,  if  he  have  ordinary 
intelligence,  and  ordinary  caro,  aided  by  a  small  medicine-chest, 
and  a  lancet — without  vihich  latter  article  no  sportsman  should 
ever  take  the  field— will  enable  him  to  guard  against  the  occur- 
rence of  most  disorders  in  his  kennel,  and  to  conquer  such  aa  do 
occur,  unless  exti-aordinarily  obstinate  or  malignant.      ' 


FIELD     MANAGEMENT    OF    DOGS. 

It  is  not,  of  course,  presumed  that  the  sportsman  is  necessari- 
ly  to  become  a  dog-hreaker,  much  less  that  a  tyro  at  field  sports 
can  be  made  a  dog-breaker  by  reading  a  few  pages  more  or 
less  of  written  or  printed  instructions. 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  notoiious  that  scaice  any  science  is  more 
difficult  of  attainment,  or  requires  more  combinations  of  personal 
qualifications  than  that  of  subduing  and  breaking  animals.     Ex- 
treme patience,  great  steadiness  of  temper,  sagacity,  intelligence, 
quickness  of  comprehension,  finnness  and  even  severity,  must  be 
united  to  long  experience,  to  personal  strength,  physical  cour- 
age, the  power  of  enduring  fatigue,  unwearied  indust.y,  indo- 
mitable energy,  and  constant  perseverance.  Even  of  professional 
dog-breakers,  not  one  in  fifty  is  really  up  to  his  business  ;  how 
then  shall  the  amateur  hope  to  jump  at  the  conclusion  in  a  minute. 
Again,  it  is  presumed  that  every  person  who  is  not  a  most 
perfect  and  accomplished  sportsman,  will  buy  a  well-broke  dog; 
or  if  he  breeds,  which  is  troublesome,  and  very  likely  to  lead  to 
disappointment,  will  have  his  Pointer  or  Setter  trained  by  a 
professional  workman. 

It  is  true  that  a  dog  will  certainly  work  better  for  the  person 
who  has  first  trained,  and  continually  practised  him,  without 
ever  clianging  his  master;  but  so  few  men  have  the  ability,  and 
so  few  of  those  who  have,  are  willing  to  give  the  time  or  labor 
necessary  to  indoctrinate  a  dog  thoroughly,  that  it  is  hardly  ever 


1..,    "  ■  ^' ;. 


UPLAND    SHOOTING.  oir.. 

*e  a™.,,  after  „ai„g  .ho..„:;,;,:2  J 'X;*'^ 'o  ""•"• 
tice;  and  affain  it  i«  w^li  .i.  !    ■^  ^'"''^' P^'^  ct  m  his  prac- 

wan.  „„.  of  pe,Bave,.a„ce,  but  of  knowtle  '  "'    ™ 

Pointer  and  SetSa'  taWi  d  ,7"°";  '"  ""',  """^  '''s'-'"-' 
«l.e  ve,y  pn,,s.  ca,.„  of t;  'e ^  1"°  ."7-''  -"»«,  and  in 
lows,  k  also  now  l.o.edilar  T  I,  ^  P""*  "''  **  «"" 

puppies,  not  aWe  six  T-eeks„n  "",""' ''■''"^™  ^°'"'» 
pointing  the  Pigeons  „dft,s  a,;;',"""'*  "'"'"  *»  ^'■■•'> 
«eadily„a  old  dogs  in  the  fil  '  d  ,  '^T^  """  '"°"""'  " 
Pointer  „,.  Se.,e,'as  w  ^h  the  iroul    r"'  '''"''"'  ^"^  *'»■ 

<-":tXL:tts\r:i:-  ""■  ^  --""^. 

.»  -;o.th  Hreaking,  .hi,  J  sh  ,S  j^ ^ r;:,""''  ="■  ;'-*-,„ 
and  ,v„hont  a  g„n,  where  ga„e  ab,™d„'?  T"  """'"'• 
aeons  ami  movements.     If  he  have  obse.ving  his 

b.eci,  he  will  „„.,„„,„,,  p:/ro;r;'""-"''''''''''s"^ 

crossing  the  scent  of  Qnail  &„„,.  I  ""™'™  °*'  '"" 

TMs  point  once  estl.l    1,^  X' so'"'"'  7  ^""^"''''■ 

fte  Letter,  and  he  is,  on  uT^t'^l     T'   "  "  ™'"''  '•'™^ 

a.K-n,  or  to  s.o  ga„;  ""  Tn  "■■°'''  '"  •"■'  ""'en  out 
!■  is  to  the  vidons  p  ^    If  '      ""  "  '"*«'>■  ''--'-*' 

>«,  and  in  ./„y;J  „*;;,:„  ™7;""=   ■"'neak  dogs  ,„  «. 

les.  irr.ch,imable  brni:  is  .;  tTJlZ'''  "^ ^''''^  ""* 

-..^.er:Sri;r^^.trv"^"«'°"^°-"- 

-cement,  b,  means  of  a  cord  fasrfdr,:;:^::^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


I  7 


■^'-4^ 


356 


FnANK  fourstek's  field  spouts. 


gentle  force,  and  gentle  pimishmont— at  first,  at  the  word 
"down,"  or  "charge,"  then  hy  the  raised  hand  accompanying 
the  word  ;  th»  n  l)y  the  raised  hand  alone. 

This  done,  the  cord  must  be  removed,  and  he  mnst  he  accus- 
tomed  to  "  charge"  at  any  distance  from  his  mastei-,  and  to  lie 
steadily  at  charge,  even  although  the  master  walks  away  from 
him  with  his  back  tunie.1,  and  goes  out  of  sight  of  hivi,  unless 
he  is  desired  to  "  hold  up." 

Lastly,  he  must  be  taught  to  consider  the  sound  of  the  gq^n  as 
equivalent  to  the  raisixl  hand,  or  the  word  "  charge,"  and  to 
obey  any  one  of  these  sigiia!:^  when  at  the  top  of  his  speed. 

Next,  he  must  learn  to  a-swer  the  sound  of  the  whistle,  ac- 
cording to  his  master's  teaching.  The  best  signal  is  to  turn'and 
look  at  one  shai-ji  whisrle,  to  come,  in  at  a  prolonged  blast.  On 
turning  his  head,  he  i.  to  follow  the  wafture  of  his  master's 
hand  to  the  right  or  V:^,  and  Jie  is  then  to  be  instructed  in 
breakmg  and  quaitcring  his  ground  regularly  and  evenly  at  the 
whistle,  and  ihe  waive  of  the  han.l.  Gradually  he  will  come  to 
understand  the  object  of  this  teaching,  and  will  quarter  his  ground 
alone. 

This  is  a  very  important  part  of  breaking,  for  no  dog  can  bo 
regarded  as  at  all  perfect,  which  only  runs  about  its  ground  irre- 
gularly, without  settled  and  orderly  method,  leaving  great 
spaces  uncrossed,  and,  perhaps,  ci-ossing  other  spaces  several 
timeo  over,  wasting  time  thus,  and  failing  to  find  much  of  its 
game ;  and  yet  it  is  not  unfair  to  say,  that  of  fifty  dogs  turned 
out  as  broken  dogs  by  American  breakers,  not  one  has  ever  been 
instructed  m  the  nidiments  of  this  branch. 

As  soon  as  the  pup  drops  to  shot  perfectly,  and  steadily,  and 
tui-ns  quickly  to  the  whistle  and  call,  having  learned  the  neces- 
sity oi prompt  and  implicit  obedience,  and  the  certainty  of  punish- 
ment  m  case  of  wilfulness,  he  may  be  taken  out  alone,  without  a 
gun,  to  find  game.     He  must  thus  be  accustomed  to  the  word 

1  oho  as  the  signal  of  pointing,  and  that  bo  thoroughly,  that  he 
shall  obey  the  word  "  Tuho,"  by  pointing  steadily  when  there 
IS  no  game. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


367 


This  done,  several  young  dogs  may  be  taken  out  to  exercise 
together,  and  taught  all  to  drop  at  once  at  the  word  "  charge," 
the  raised  hand,  or  the  shot ;  and  all  to  stop  or  point  simulta- 
neously at  the  word  "  Toho,"  and  at  the  sight  thereafter,  by 
each  of  the  other's  point. 

All  that  is  requisite  in  order  to  enforce  these  lessons,  is  stea- 
diness. 

The  dogs  must  now  be  broke  to  fetch,  and  this  is  the  hardest 
lesson  of  all;  but  no  dog  is  perfect  until  he  has  learned  it; 
for  it  is,  in  the  tiret  place,  almost  indispensable  to  making 
large  bags  in  our  wild  wooded  country,  that  dogs  should  fetch  ; 
and,  secondly,  it  tends,  if  properly  done,  to  render  dogs  deli- 
berate and  steady  beyond  all  means  in  the  world. 

This,  like  the  "  down-charge,"  must,  in  the  first  instance,  be 
taught  in  the  collar  and  cord,  and  under  the  whip. 

Obsei-ve,  above  all  things  in  dog  breaking,  that  a  dog  is  never 
to  be  taught  anything  by  coaxing,  but  always  by  the  fear  of  pun- 
ishment. A  dog  which  is  taught  by  coaxing,  if  he  turn  sulky, 
can  never  be  controlled,  as  he  does  not  know  what  punishment 
means. 

A  dog  is  taught  to  fetch  by  charging  him,  putting  a  ball  or 
some  soft  substance  into  his  moutli,  closing  his  jaws  on  it,  and 
replacing  it,  with  gentle  punish.aent,  so  often  as  he  rejects  it. 
This  learned,  he  is  forced  by  a  repetition  of  tlie  same  process, 
to  rise  and  carry  it  about — then  to  fetch  it  when  dropped,  or 
thrown,  till  he  is  perfect. 

Thereafter,  he  is  made  to  down-charge  fii-st  of  all,  when  it  is 
thrown,  and  not  to  attempt  to  fetch  it,  unless  desired  to  "  fetch," 
to  drop  several  times  to  the  "  charge,"  before  reaching  the  ball, 
after  being  sent  for  it,  and,  lastly,  to  '*  charge"  with  his  nose 
almost  touching  it.  The  final  lesson  of  all  is  to  deliver  it  quietly 
and  willingly. 

All  this  is  to  be  enforced  by  the  whip,  rigorously,  but  tempe- 
rately,—invariably,  but  never  angrily,— with  praise  and  caresses 
when  he  does  well,  and  reproaches  accompanying  chastisement. 
All  these  things  he  must  be  accustomed  to  do,  until  they  have 


i 


858 


KKANK    FOHESTKh's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


b.<-omc  ubsolu.ely  his  srcond  nature,  ^vitl,out  his  conc-eivin.  to 
whnt  ..he  teuclung  is  applicable.     This  accomplished,  when  l.o 
nover  fa.  s  ol  obeying  these  signals  and  (.nlers-vvhen  ho  becomes 
thoroughly  aware  that  the  least  infringen.ent  of  commai.ds  is 
^.  lowed  by  sure  i.dliction  of  the  lash-when  he  perfonns  the 
whole  routine  of  his  little  instructionw.  with  the  mechanical  stea- 
am.ss  and  coolness  of  a  circus  horse,  take  him  out  with  the  gun 
afon,-  and  you  will  have  no  difficulty  in  controlling  him,-he  will 
r='l>'dly  come  to  apply  his  theory  to  practice-he  will  become 
pa^n,na,ely  and  devotedly  fond  of  his  sport.-his  enthusiasm 
ul  aidor  wall  increase  the  more,  the  more  game  is  killed  over 

tZlI  '  '^  "''"^  ^"'^  °^^'^'""'  ^"^  ^^"'«  «'  no 

He  wi^ll  not  associate  his  ideas  of  punishment  with  the  game  or 
he  gun,  but  with  the  infringement  of  the  old  teachings,  and  he  will 
a  very  «hoit  time  become-what  he  never  would  be  if  taken 
ou   hal    broke,  and  allowed  to  contract  bad  habits,  and  to  com- 
mit faults  before  he  knows  that  they  are  faults-perfect.     In  this 
case  the  prevention  comes  before  the  commission  of  the  fault 
and  the  error  itself-is  checked  by  a  word  before  it  is  committed.' 
In  another  word  the  dog  is  not  flogged  for  flushing  his  bird,  or 
fading  to  back  his  comrade,  but  for  refusing  obedience  to  the 
word  "  toho  --not  flogg.d  for  running  in  to'bite  a  bird,  but  for 
olteZl         ""'^  "^^'-ff^^'-^he  raised  hand,  or  the  sound 

in  ^tl.5T  n"-  ''",  f '  I  ''"^^'''""  '^  "'•^""^^^^  '-^  impetuosity 
in    he  field,  IS  added  to  the  natural  difficulty  of  teaching,  you 

will  ton  in  vain.  No  dog  can  ever  be  made  a  ,.rfcct  dog  who 
IS  notj>e,:/ectJ.>/  broke  ,o  "  down-charge,"  to  "  toho,"  to  "  fetch  " 
and  to  ol.,>y  imj^licifl,/,  before  a  bird  is  killed  over  him 

This  IS  the  shibboleth,  the  grand  arcanum  of  dog  breaking 
All  the  rest  is  mere  practice  and  experience,  which  make 
perfect  both  the  teacher  and  the  taught. 

Young  dogs  should  always  be  hunted  alone,  or  with  other 
young  dogs.     But  it  is  far  better  to  hunt  them  quite  alone,  until 
Buch  tune  as  tl^y  come  to  understand  their  work  thorougUy 
and  to  feel  confidence  in  themselves. 


UPLAND   SHOOTING. 


359 


If  hunted  with  knowing  old  dogs,  puppies  will  soon  come  to 
dt!pt!nd  on  them  entirely ;  will  follow  them,  and  watch  their 
nvery  motion,  and  never  learning  to  beat  their  own  ground,  or 
fiftl  their  own  game,  will  content  themselves  with  backing,  in- 
stead of  pointing,  and  will  become  timid,  and  ultimately  useless. 

Hunting  puppies,  on  the  contrary,  together,  vill  tend  to  make 
them  all  wild  and  rash,  and  to  induce  their  mutually  learning 
the  faults  of  all. 

On  the  whole,  therefore,  it  is  the  better  way  to  hunt  young 
dogs  singly  during  their  first  season,  killing  as  many  birds  over 
them  as  possible ;  and,  at  the  beginning  of  the  second  year,  re- 
membering that  brace-hunting  is  the  proper  sphere  of  Pointers, 
or  Setters,  to  introduce  them  to  mates  of  their  own  ages,  and 
thenceforth  always  to  hunt,  and,  as  much  as  you  can,  feed  the 
same  braces  together.  One  brace  of  dogs,  accustomed  so  to  live 
and  beat  together,  will  do  better  work  a-field,  than  three  dogs 
of  equal  qualities,  all  working  each  "  on  his  own  hook." 

So  much  for  the  rules  of  dog  breaking  ! 

With  regard  to  practice  and  management  in  the  field,  there  is 
little  or  nothing  to  be  said,  beyond  what  I  have  already  laid 
A.OWXV,  passim,  under  the  heads  of  the  various  kinds  of  Upland 
shooting. 

Dogs  should  not  be  harassed  by  too  many,  and  never  by  con- 
trary, orders.  No  fault  should  ever  be  passed  over  in  silence, 
and  very  few  will  be  committed.  Punishment  should  be  in- 
flicted as  rarely  as  possible,  but  when  it  is  inflicted,  it  should  be 
done  thoroughly  and  severely. 

Never  holloa  at  a  dog — never  run  after  a  dog,  but  either  make 
him  come  back  to  you,  or  bide  your  time  till  he  becomes  tired 
and  returns  of  his  own  accord,  then  punish  for  the  double  event. 

When  you  enter  a  field,  or  covert,  which  you  propose  to  beat, 
bid  your  dogs  "  hold  up,"  and  waive  them  right  and  left.  Turn 
them  by  a  whistle,  and  waive  them  hither  or  thither.  When 
they  strike  a  bevy  of  Quail,  or  other  game,  never  hurry  after 
them,  but  make  them  go  slow  by  the  word  "  steady."  If  they 
are  rash,  be  you  deliberate.     If  you  hurry  on,  you  best  encou- 


360 


PRANK    forester's   FIELD   SPORTS. 


rage  their  hurrying.  Never  mind  if  they  flush  me  bevy,  and 
you  lose  one  shot.  Be  steady,  and  punish,  so  that  they  will  not 
do  so  again. 

When  they  point,  flush  your  own  bird,  even  if  you  get  a  worse 
shot  at  it  than  you  would  do  by  hieing  on  your  dog.  To  do  so 
will  make  him  heedless  and  iieadstrong. 

If  you  kill,  stand  still,  cry   "  down-charge,"  and  load  your 
gun.     If  the  dogs  i-un  in,  don't  run  after  them,  it  will  only  make 
them  run  the  faster.     Stand  still,  and  cry  "  down,"  till  you  have 
done  loading.     Then  go  on  deliberately,  never  heed  the  dead 
bird,  which  is  probably  half  eaten  by  this  time,  but  drag  the 
offender  back  to  the  place  whence  he  started,  crying  "down- 
charge,"  and  lashing  him  all  the  ^ay,— then  hold  him  down,  and 
flog  him  most  severely.  Make  him  lie  still,  without  stirring,  till  you 
have  brought  the  bird,  and  laid  it  close  under  his  nose.     Then 
make  him  pick  it  up,  and  give  it  you,— he  will  not  run  in  many 
times,  if  so  dealt  withal. 

Break  your  dogs  thus,  or  have  them  thus  broken,  and  when 
they  are  broken,  handle  them  thus  in  the  kennel,  and  in  the 
field,  and  my  word  on  it,  they  will  be,  and  continue  good  ones. 


END  OF  VOLUME  ONE. 


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